A few days before the July 4th weekend, the Decorah Middle School practice field (as seen in the photo) was sprayed with herbicides to mitigate weeds. The weeds are seen by some as a "safety issue" for student-athletes that use the field for extra-curricular activities.  For people who live near and use the practice field to play with their kids or pets, the smell of the herbicide spray was overpowering, even days later. Decorah residents deserve to have safe outdoor spaces for all our community members, children, and pets to play (especially during the Covid-19 pandemic).

There are many documented health risks to popular lawn herbicides, including the possibility of cancer, liver and kidney damage, as well as disruptions to reproductive and hormonal systems.  For children especially, these chemicals may have permanent health consequences because their bodies and immune systems are not fully developed. According to a National Cancer Institute study, dogs exposed to popular lawn herbicides have a greater risk of developing lymphoma.

There are alternatives to synthetic, cancer-causing chemicals being sprayed on the Decorah Middle School practice field. Using compost and grass clippings may help in adding nitrogen to the soil and decrease the number of weeds that grow back.  And if weeds do appear, they can be pulled by hand. Perhaps a coalition of volunteers could help weed the practice field (if that would be a welcomed solution from the Decorah School Board). There are organic herbicides on the market, but these, too, can be toxic to humans and pets.

Thank you for your time and support! Together, we will let the Decorah School Board know that we want the Decorah Middle School practice field to be a safe place for all members of our community. (If you have any other suggestions or solutions to this issue, please reach out!)