Letter to the Editor: Gretchen Pingel on Synthetic Turf on Hayes Field
April 30, 2014:
To the Editor:
I would like to comment on the article written two weeks ago about the Bronxville Board of Education's proposal to install a synthetic turf on Hayes Field.
While I understand and appreciate the efforts to ensure safe and reliable fields for our children to use every day, I suggest spending no additional money, but instead allowing the flood mitigation team to replant the field with natural turf on top of the new state-of-the-art drainage system underneath it.
It is important to be aware of potential health risks associated with artificial turf. There has not been enough detailed data to prove that synthetic fields are unsafe . . . they are innocent until proven guilty . . . but health experts have pointed to a couple of red flags to note in the research that has been done so far:
1. Risks associated with toxic ingredients: with wear and tear, the components of the fields break down and release dangerous chemicals into the air and ground.
2. High temperatures: synthetic fields hold heat better than blacktops. Temperatures can rise to 173° F on a hot day in the summer.
It is also important to keep in mind that synthetic fields need to be replaced every ten years. They are very expensive to install, they are also very expensive to dispose of--and they ruin the soil beneath them if a community wishes to revert back to natural turf.
The synthetic field that Bronxville School currently has (a type that New York City no longer installs due to health safety concerns) will need to be replaced in the next few years.
This fall residents will be voting whether or not to use funds to pay the high cost of installing synthetic turf on Hayes Field and committing to spending millions of dollars on future synthetic fields. I prefer the alternative of spending no additional money and seeing how the fields hold up with natural turf atop the new drainage substructure.
Gretchen Pingel
Bronxville, New York 10708
April 25, 2014
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.
Letters Directory
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
Letters Recent Articles
Quick Links
Newsletter
MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.
The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.