Wayland Enacts Turf Field Moratorium, Elects Grass Option

WAYLAND, MA — Opponents of crumb rubber sports fields scored a victory Sunday when Town Meeting approved a moratorium on building new artificial fields in town.

Town Meeting also approved three measures that would create two new grass athletic fields in town. One measure would set aside $125,000 to build a new grass field at the Loker Conservation and Recreation Area. The other two measures would spend $50,000 each to study installing new grass fields near the highway department facility at 207 Main St. and at a third site somewhere else in Wayland.

The push for a moratorium on synthetic crumb rubber fields follows a no-vote at the spring Town Meeting to build a turf field at Loker. The Recreation Commission in late summer began pursuing a private fundraiser to pay for the turf field at Loker, spurring residents to seek a special Town Meeting for a vote on the turf moratorium.

Opponents say crumb rubber fields are a possible environmental threat because of chemicals in the rubber. Wayland High School's new synthetic turf field opened in the last school year, and was partially damaged by heavy rain in recent months.