Wayland To Mull Synthetic Turf Moratorium At Special Town Meeting

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland will hold a special Town Meeting this fall to consider a ban on synthetic crumb rubber fields, which many residents fear are an environmental hazard to young people and the town at large.

The Board of Selectmen on Monday chose Oct. 3 for the special Town Meeting after receiving a citizen petition signed by hundreds of Wayland residents. The moratorium would last for three years, if approved.

"The use of synthetic/artificial turn on athletic playing fields entails myriad public healthy and safety, environmental and climate concerns," the petition said. "This moratorium allows the town the opportunity to a) examine the extent to which synthetic/artificial turf is injurious to pubic health and safety ... and b) to determine if natural grass solutions based on the use of the latest techniques for grass field construction and organic maintenance create viable alternatives for Wayland."

The petitions follows the defeat at the spring Town Meeting of an article that would've funded a $3.6 million rubber turf field at the Loker Recreation Area. In July, the Wayland Recreation Commission began pursuing a Zoning Board of Appeals permit to construct the rubber Loker field using private funds. The petitioners sought a special Town Meeting this fall fearing that voting on a moratorium at the spring 2022 meeting would be too late.

Studies have shown that some crumb rubber infill — sometimes made of recycled tires — can contain chemicals like phthalates and benzene. Wayland residents have expressed fear that the rubber could harm athletes, but may also blow off the field and into the local water supply — already compromised by the recent discovery of elevated PFAS levels.

Although the synthetic turf moratorium will be the focus on the October special Town Meeting, the warrant will open on Tuesday for seven days to consider other possible items.