Preserve the grass field at Founders Park - Say No to Artificial Turf!
Preserve the grass field at Founders Park - Say No to Artificial Turf!
The Issue
*** very important: we are not looking to raise money, if you are prompted to donate money after you sign be aware that the money does not go to us nor we are asking for donations. It is an automatic function of this website. You can easily say NO and opt OUT. Support us by sharing this petition, thanks!
Dear concerned residents and parents of Aventura,
we need your help in protecting and preserving the natural beauty of our local park, Founders Park. We strongly oppose the installation of artificial turf and urge our city officials to reconsider this decision. By signing this petition, we express our collective concern for both environmental sustainability and public health.
1. Environmental Impact:
Artificial turf may seem like a convenient solution at first glance; however, it poses significant environmental risks that cannot be ignored. The production process involves harmful chemicals and non-biodegradable materials that contribute to pollution and waste accumulation in landfills. Additionally, artificial turf requires extensive water usage for maintenance purposes, which is particularly concerning considering Florida's already limited freshwater resources.
Artificial turf contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that due to their chemical composition allow them to accumulate and remain in the environment contaminating ground and surface water and our wildlife unless they are actively remediated. This is why they are widely known as “forever chemicals” and are being studied and banned from use. After it’s 5-15 year life, it is nearly impossible to dispose of them and takes thousands of years to break down - if ever. The City of Aventura really wants to risk proceeding with this project given that it looks like artificial turf fields will likely need to be remediated? And if so, who will pay for this?
2. Health Concerns:
Contrary to popular belief, artificial turf can have adverse effects on human health as well. Research has shown that synthetic playing surfaces can reach extremely high temperatures during hot weather conditions due to their heat-absorbing properties. This excessive heat can lead to increased risk of heat-related illnesses among park visitors, especially children who are more vulnerable.
Furthermore, studies have indicated a potential link between artificial turf and certain health issues such as skin abrasions or infections caused by inadequate sanitation practices on these surfaces.
3. More serious health concerns: Artificial turf contain per- and polyfluorinated substances (or PFAs for short). These chemicals belong to a group of chemicals coined “forever chemicals” because their chemical stability prevents them from breaking down, instead allowing them to last for years and bioaccumulate in the environment and living organisms. This means PFA chemical contamination is particularly dangerous; not only do the chemicals cause adverse health effects, but they also stay in the environment and contaminated sources for years. What do PFAs cause in humans? More and more scientists have begun to study chemical contamination’s effects, leading to the consensus that PFAs directly mess with human development. The chemicals have been shown to cause neurotoxicity (adverse alteration of the nervous system), immunotoxicity (adverse alteration of the immune system), cancer, and other harmful health effects by disrupting the normal human body’s signaling and chemical pathways. The chemicals are considered so dangerous that 122 countries even signed a national treaty in 2001, the Stockholm Convention, to restrict their production and use.
4. Loss of Biodiversity:
Our local park is not just a recreational space but also an important habitat for various plant species and wildlife native to Florida's ecosystem. Artificial turf installation would disrupt this delicate balance by replacing natural vegetation with an unnatural surface that cannot support biodiversity effectively.
5. Financial Burden:
While proponents argue that artificial turf reduces maintenance costs in the long run compared to natural grass fields, it is essential to consider the initial investment required for installation and subsequent periodic replacements due to wear-and-tear over time.
We propose alternative solutions such as sustainable grass varieties that are better adapted to Florida's climate, which can reduce maintenance costs while preserving the natural aesthetics and benefits of a real grass field.
By signing this petition, we call upon the local authorities to prioritize environmental sustainability, public health, and biodiversity conservation by halting the use of artificial turf at our beloved local park. Let us work together towards creating a greener future for Aventura!
Sources:
1. Environmental Impact: "The Hidden Costs of Artificial Turf" - National Wildlife Federation.
2. Health Concerns: "Heat Stress on Synthetic Turf" - Sports Medicine Australia.
3. Loss of Biodiversity: "Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass: Which is Greener?" - EarthTalk.
4. Financial Burden: "Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass in Athletic Fields" - University of California Cooperative Extension.
More scientific literature:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35948114/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28493060/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29268178/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33513533/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30458352/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34952075/
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
-Read, sign and share this petition.
-Educate your friends and neighbors.
-Write or call our mayor and our city council members to tell them to stop stop this project. You can email them at:
hweinberg@cityofaventura.com (Mayor)
mstern@cityofaventura.com
bjoel@cityofaventura.com
pkruss@cityofaventura.com
rfriedland@cityofaventura.com
abloom@cityofaventura.com
lmarks@cityofaventura.com
WassonR@cityofaventura.com (City Manager)
ehorvath@cityofaventura.com (City clerk)
Thank you for your support in safeguarding our natural parks in beautiful Aventura!
634
The Issue
*** very important: we are not looking to raise money, if you are prompted to donate money after you sign be aware that the money does not go to us nor we are asking for donations. It is an automatic function of this website. You can easily say NO and opt OUT. Support us by sharing this petition, thanks!
Dear concerned residents and parents of Aventura,
we need your help in protecting and preserving the natural beauty of our local park, Founders Park. We strongly oppose the installation of artificial turf and urge our city officials to reconsider this decision. By signing this petition, we express our collective concern for both environmental sustainability and public health.
1. Environmental Impact:
Artificial turf may seem like a convenient solution at first glance; however, it poses significant environmental risks that cannot be ignored. The production process involves harmful chemicals and non-biodegradable materials that contribute to pollution and waste accumulation in landfills. Additionally, artificial turf requires extensive water usage for maintenance purposes, which is particularly concerning considering Florida's already limited freshwater resources.
Artificial turf contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that due to their chemical composition allow them to accumulate and remain in the environment contaminating ground and surface water and our wildlife unless they are actively remediated. This is why they are widely known as “forever chemicals” and are being studied and banned from use. After it’s 5-15 year life, it is nearly impossible to dispose of them and takes thousands of years to break down - if ever. The City of Aventura really wants to risk proceeding with this project given that it looks like artificial turf fields will likely need to be remediated? And if so, who will pay for this?
2. Health Concerns:
Contrary to popular belief, artificial turf can have adverse effects on human health as well. Research has shown that synthetic playing surfaces can reach extremely high temperatures during hot weather conditions due to their heat-absorbing properties. This excessive heat can lead to increased risk of heat-related illnesses among park visitors, especially children who are more vulnerable.
Furthermore, studies have indicated a potential link between artificial turf and certain health issues such as skin abrasions or infections caused by inadequate sanitation practices on these surfaces.
3. More serious health concerns: Artificial turf contain per- and polyfluorinated substances (or PFAs for short). These chemicals belong to a group of chemicals coined “forever chemicals” because their chemical stability prevents them from breaking down, instead allowing them to last for years and bioaccumulate in the environment and living organisms. This means PFA chemical contamination is particularly dangerous; not only do the chemicals cause adverse health effects, but they also stay in the environment and contaminated sources for years. What do PFAs cause in humans? More and more scientists have begun to study chemical contamination’s effects, leading to the consensus that PFAs directly mess with human development. The chemicals have been shown to cause neurotoxicity (adverse alteration of the nervous system), immunotoxicity (adverse alteration of the immune system), cancer, and other harmful health effects by disrupting the normal human body’s signaling and chemical pathways. The chemicals are considered so dangerous that 122 countries even signed a national treaty in 2001, the Stockholm Convention, to restrict their production and use.
4. Loss of Biodiversity:
Our local park is not just a recreational space but also an important habitat for various plant species and wildlife native to Florida's ecosystem. Artificial turf installation would disrupt this delicate balance by replacing natural vegetation with an unnatural surface that cannot support biodiversity effectively.
5. Financial Burden:
While proponents argue that artificial turf reduces maintenance costs in the long run compared to natural grass fields, it is essential to consider the initial investment required for installation and subsequent periodic replacements due to wear-and-tear over time.
We propose alternative solutions such as sustainable grass varieties that are better adapted to Florida's climate, which can reduce maintenance costs while preserving the natural aesthetics and benefits of a real grass field.
By signing this petition, we call upon the local authorities to prioritize environmental sustainability, public health, and biodiversity conservation by halting the use of artificial turf at our beloved local park. Let us work together towards creating a greener future for Aventura!
Sources:
1. Environmental Impact: "The Hidden Costs of Artificial Turf" - National Wildlife Federation.
2. Health Concerns: "Heat Stress on Synthetic Turf" - Sports Medicine Australia.
3. Loss of Biodiversity: "Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass: Which is Greener?" - EarthTalk.
4. Financial Burden: "Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass in Athletic Fields" - University of California Cooperative Extension.
More scientific literature:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35948114/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28493060/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29268178/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33513533/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30458352/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34952075/
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
-Read, sign and share this petition.
-Educate your friends and neighbors.
-Write or call our mayor and our city council members to tell them to stop stop this project. You can email them at:
hweinberg@cityofaventura.com (Mayor)
mstern@cityofaventura.com
bjoel@cityofaventura.com
pkruss@cityofaventura.com
rfriedland@cityofaventura.com
abloom@cityofaventura.com
lmarks@cityofaventura.com
WassonR@cityofaventura.com (City Manager)
ehorvath@cityofaventura.com (City clerk)
Thank you for your support in safeguarding our natural parks in beautiful Aventura!
634
Supporter Voices
Petition created on July 2, 2023