City planning for Lincoln Park at Argenziano school - to turf or not to turf?

[andy wolf]

For the past 2 years or more there has been an ongoing planning process about how to renovate Lincoln Park. This mixed-use area will have school playground space, green space, a softball field and an athletic field sized for U12 soccer. The controversy centers on the athletic field - turf or natural grass?

Recently the city announced that they would go with natural grass. This is a reversal of course for the city, and seems primarily based on neighborhood opposition to turf and desire for natural grass green space (the latest turf plan would be synthetic turf using organic in-fill, not the used tire turf that some folks have health concerns about).

My view is that the park has a lot of greenspace already, but Somerville lacks sufficient recreation space. This would be a lit field in a heavily populated area that could get tons of use and even provide some permitting income back to the city. Instead, only youth soccer will be allowed to use it, and then only sparingly, to protect the grass. Somerville does not have a good track record protecting natural grass fields (anyone check out Conway or even Hodgkins lately?), and I fear before long Lincoln park will be back to its current dustbowl status.

My kids will be too old to take advantage of the U12 fields either way, but I hate to see the city making this kind of mistake. Recreational space is at a premium and should be open to all in the city. If you agree, you can help by signing this online petition or reaching out to your alderman or the mayor's office. Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

Two questions:

- what is U12?

- in the map shown on the petition page, which field do you want changed from grass to turf? The left one ("Community Green / Softball Field") or the right ("Multi-Use Field")?

[mdisles.livejournal.com]

Artificial turf is gross

[veek.livejournal.com]

The notion that recreational space equates to astroturf doesn't fit in my worldview. I'll be calling City Hall, commending them on this decision (among other things, environmentally net positive), and encouraging them to make a real plan for opening up the field for public use AND maintaining the grass. Like, you know, a park.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

There are some great organic artificial turf options that would be a good compromise. The artificial field is only 15% of the park space. While I love the idea of having a lush green field, it's not realistic in densely populated area.