Brookline GreenSpace Alliance Decries Driscoll School Turf Field

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, a nonprofit environmental advocacy and education organization dedicated to the enhancement of open space, has spoken out against the installation of an artificial turf field at the Driscoll School and is urging the town to change the design from a plastic field to a grass surface.

In a letter to the School Committee and Select Board on behalf of the Board of Directors, Brookline GreenSpace Alliance President Arelene Mattison said the organization opposes the artificial turf field out of concern for both the children and the environment.

"The turf field consists of a large number of undocumented mixtures of petrochemical
plastics and chemicals of varying toxicity," said Mattison. "All plastics are toxic throughout their entire lifecycle."

"Rainwater will wash chemicals and microplastics into the soil and the storm water system," she continued. "Microparticles and leachate can beingested by aquatic animals downstream from our stormwater system and enter the human food chain. Wind will blow plastic microparticle dust onto people and the surrounding area. Students, staff and groundskeepers will be the most heavily exposed."

Mattison also noted that the artificial turf field would displace about one-third of an acre of natural ecosystem that sequesters carbon and cover it with plastic, resulting in a loss of habitat for many animals. In addition, synthetic plastic is much hotter than grass and will create a heat island effect.

"Brookline has been a leader in reducing unnecessary plastics with its groundbreaking packaging by-laws, and now needs to again consider the significant negative environmental and health impacts of plastic field surfaces," said Mattison.

"Our policy should be for natural materials where possible," she added. "Driscoll is targeted to be our greenest school to date so it is inconsistent to have synthetic petrochemical ground surfaces there."

The Driscoll School artificial turf debate echoes the argument over Cypress Field, during which some residents argued in favor of turf fields due to longevity, usability, and safety.

"They last longer and look better, solving two problems, but is that really what you want?" said Clint Richmond, a Town Meeting member who is on the Board of Directors for the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance.

"We never have enough green space in Brookline, especially in North Brookline," he continued. "I'm hoping now that we are doing this Community Preservation Act, there will be more funding to purchase land."

In response to Brookline GreenSpace Alliance's concerns, Select Board Chair Heather Hamilton said it is late in the process to be receiving complaints, as there were numerous opportunities for people to submit comment.

"I know that some people really don't like turf, and we can argue about the environmental impacts," said Hamilton. "But we have to balance what is good for the environment and what the actual function is."

Patch has reached out to the Brookline School Committee and will update this article when we hear back.