Letter to the Editor: David Hunt on Hayes Field
Dec. 17, 2014:
To the Editor:
On January 22, 2015, I will be voting "no" on a $2.2 million plan to install synthetic turf on Hayes Field.
My family and I love Bronxville. In the warm months my toddler-aged children run, play, and explore in joyous wonderment the sights, sounds, and feel that natural grass under foot provides on Hayes Field.
I look forward to my children continuing to enjoy Hayes Field as an athletic field and recreation space when they are school-aged. It would be a shame to lose a natural grass space to plastics and industrial materials.
I understand the school board's concerns over a growing student population and a need for more athletic areas; however, synthetic turf strikes me as a shortsighted solution for numerous reasons.
Health concerns are mounting related to synthetic turf fields, ranging from the significant heat retention on these fields to exposure to known carcinogens used in some of the materials. Young children are particularly vulnerable to these potential exposures.
Financially, a synthetic turf field makes little sense, as these fields need to be replaced after ten years at a cost of millions for the disposal. This seems a particularly egregious waste when installing and maintaining a natural grass field is possible, as Friends of Hayes Field has discovered in obtaining far less-costly quotes from a lawn care company.
I urge concerned Bronxville residents to join the Friends of Hayes Field movement and most importantly vote "no" to synthetic turf on January 22, 2015.
David Hunt
Bronxville, New York
Editor's note: MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements in letters to the editor, and the opinions do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff. Its objective in publishing letters to the editor is to give air to diverse thoughts and opinions of residents in the community.
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Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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