To the Editor:

As the community debate over artificial turf at Nursery Field continues to unfold, many people are positioning this as an all-or-nothing solution rather than seeing this as part of a much bigger movement, with multiple solutions, that requires a more holistic plan.

The larger question — how to improve recreational spaces to accommodate a growing number of young people — is being raised in towns throughout the Northeast — in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey — with the same diversity of viewpoints that we have here in Rye. What makes Rye unique is the tunnel vision that has led us to a singular plan of synthetic turf at Nursery. As a community, we need to consider alternatives to artificial turf and alternatives to a geographically sensitive location. Let’s broaden the conversation. 

While the City of Rye has provided representatives from Vision Sports Design and the Synthetic Turf Council to present an artificial turf option, the technology for grass fields has been advancing rapidly and this advancement deserves to be visited as a solution. Given the trend away from synthetic turf in both professional and youth sports, schools and towns are investing in fields that have improved drainage and soil substrates that prioritize children’s safety and environmental impact while also increasing the hours of use and improving the quality of play. A great resource on the effectiveness of natural grass fields can be found at  fieldfundinc.org for those interested in learning more.  

Among the hundreds of residents concerned about synthetic turf at Nursery are parents of youth athletes, educators, physical therapists, clinicians, and environmentalists. We all care about kids and care about their well-being, now and in the future. It is time to engage this latest research to better understand the changing landscape and commit to an improvement plan for Nursery that better suits this location while protecting our children’s future. We can accomplish this while continuing to work on ongoing projects throughout Rye that increase access to outdoor play for all children in the community. 

In 2019, the conversation between City Council, Rye Rec, and the donor group started with Sterling and Nursery as options, and was quickly narrowed to Nursery. We believe this was done in haste, and a full field inventory would have helped to create a more unifying project or range of projects to meet immediate needs and accommodate future growth. Challenges to the sensitive Nursery location caused a doubling down rather than an expansion in the conversation. Now is the time to pivot and create a gameplan that brings us together.

– Christopher Meier