SK To Invest In A Turf Field?

Turf fields have become increasing popular as more and more schools in the United States invest in artificial surface. A turf field is synthetic grass made with recycled tires or the insole of a shoe and can cost about $750,000 and above to construct.

“ I’d like to have a turf field, but I like the natural grass that we have here, “ Athletic Director Mr. Terry Lynch said.

South Kingstown High School, according to Mr. Lynch, has lots of natural grass near the school and within the town, as well as fields near URI.

Many argue that since SKHS is known widely for its athletics, the school should invest in a turf field.

Senior Amanda Trainor, who played on varsity on the SKGS team said, “ I like turf because it’s let us play indoors in the off season, which keeps our soccer skills up.”

Besides the cost factor, however, there are a few other cons that need to be considered.

“I have heard that turf fields have been the cause of cancer in teenage athletes,” said SKHS senior Jean Arnold, who played Field Hockey on the varsity school team.

Because turf fields are made with recycled tires or the insole of a shoe, the surface may contain carcinogens that can be harmful to athletes that play on the field.

According to a study done by an organization called “Environment and Human Health,” researchers found that 24 percent of chemicals in turf fields are irritants that can cause asthma.

Students at SK have mixed feelings about whether or not SK should invest in a turf field.

Alexa Vesterholm, a junior at SKHS, said, “ The school faces more important issues, like fixing the roofs.”

East Greenwich High School is the closest high school with a turf field, and according to some, SKHS’s biggest rival school, North Kingstown High School, is set to start fundraising for their turf field, according to the website Patch.com.

In regards to whether or not SKHS will invest in a turf field, Mr. Lynch said, “ With other projects that the town and school have come together to create, we most likely won’t see a turf field in the near future.”

According to Lynch, funding would come from the town to help build the turf field, but the town has already come together with the school and invested in a walking track combined with a field.

In the past months, residents voted in support to build a walking track with a field, using land between Broad Rock Middle School and the Senior Center on Broad Rock Road.

“This walking track and field is going to be costly, so it will be awhile before the town and school will want to jump into any other projects,” said Lynch.

While the town and school aren’t jumping on the bandwagon to invest in turf fields, the synthetic turf fields do have some benefits, according to some sources.

Turf fields don’t freeze due to the synthetic grass, unlike natural grass, which would allow athletes to use the fields in any weather, according to FieldTurf.com.

According to the US Soccer Foundation, field turfs also help sustain proper field quality and maximize the number of individuals who can actively use a play space.

However, the field posses negatives as well.

“ The worst is when you get turf burn.” Said Arnold, who has experienced this first person playing field hockey. “With natural grass, you don’t get that.”

According to The website Philly.com turf fields protect athletes if they were just to fall on the field, yet notes, turf field does give turf burn, when a player slides on the synthetic grass or dives into it.

A 2010 survey by the National Football League Players Association found that a majority of NFL players favored natural grass over artificial turf, which could mean that the town and school won’t agree on whether or not to invest in a turf field.

“I would like to see a turf field while I’m here, but a turf field might be something after my time here,” said Lynch.