Pesticides and Kids Don't Mix

Last Wednesday in Middletown a playing field was treated with toxic lawn pesticides, and hours later kids were playing a baseball game on it. Signs were posted properly to warn of the dangers of these chemicals. A mom questioned the signs and pulled her daughter from the game and told the coaches. The signs specifically said NO Children, NO pets within 24 hours of the application. Yet, the coaches continued with the game and most kids and families stayed on the field.

Lawn chemicals should not be applied where children, pets and the public play. Why is Middletown still doing this? The dangers of lawn chemicals are well known and documented and proven. CT has a law banning lawn care pesticides at schools, kindergarten through grade 8. The children playing on these fields were ages 9-11. But honestly, it doesn’t matter how old you are. These pesticides are more harmful to young growing bodies, but also can be dangerous to older children, adults and pets.

Concerned residents have been trying to get the City to adopt an organic program for its public properties, including playing fields, for years. The City may say it has been using organic methods on some fields, but simply doing nothing or putting organic fertilizer on a field does not constitute a legitimate program. An organic program includes testing the soil and developing a plan specific to that property to help the soil get healthier. By building the biology of the soil, the field will grow.

We have a viable alternative to using harmful pesticides while still having great fields. Organic methods have a proven track record. However, it does require thinking out of the box, re-training staff, moving away from traditional methods and learning new things. Branford and Cheshire have been managing their properties organically for years. It is a source of pride for the community.

Middletown should learn from this experience and take a strong step forward to protect its youngest citizens and visitors.

Ecoin (Environmental Collective Impact Network)
Project Green Lawn
The Jonah Center