We respectfully ask the City of Cambridge to retain natural grass at Ahern Field rather than replace the entire field with synthetic turf.

To the Cambridge City Council and the Department of Public Works,

As neighbors, athletes, and families who frequent Ahern Field, we appreciate the City’s investment in our public parks. We all share the same goal: ensuring Ahern Field remains a vibrant, durable, safe, and high-quality space that can support the many people who rely on it.

Ahern Field is not just a sports venue, it is one of the primary green spaces for many East Cambridge residents.

The current proposal would replace essentially the entire existing grass field with synthetic turf, leaving only a narrow perimeter path and eliminating all natural green space within the field. In a neighborhood that already has limited greenery and few parks, this represents the long-term loss of one of the area’s primary natural green spaces.

We are writing to respectfully request that the City reconsider this plan.

Why natural grass is the right choice for Ahern Field

• Serves the full community: Ahern Field supports a wide range of uses, including multiple sports, casual use, community events, and everyday recreation. Natural grass provides a flexible, shared surface that works across these uses without prioritizing one activity over others.
• Player safety: Research in sports medicine has found higher rates of foot and ankle injuries on synthetic turf compared with natural grass [1] [2].
• Public health: Studies have found PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and other synthetic compounds in components of artificial turf systems, which persist in the environment and can enter soil and water systems [3].
• Heat and usability: Artificial turf surfaces consistently reach higher temperatures than natural grass in direct sun, reducing usability during warmer months and contributing to higher heat exposure [4].
• Environmental impact: Artificial turf sheds microplastics into soil and waterways, reducing natural infiltration and increasing runoff compared with natural grass. These particles persist in the environment and can impact ecosystems [5]. Natural grass supports drainage, soil health, and local cooling, important in a dense urban neighborhood.
• Irreplaceable green space: Ahern Field is not one of many parks in East Cambridge, it is a primary open green space for nearby residents. Replacing it entirely with synthetic turf removes one of the few places where the community can experience natural ground cover.

A balanced approach

We support investing in Ahern Field and improving its usability. High-quality natural grass fields, with proper design, drainage, and maintenance, can support frequent use while preserving the benefits of natural space.

If additional synthetic turf fields are needed citywide, they are better suited to larger or less residential locations where green space would not be entirely displaced and where access and parking are more appropriate.

Our request

We ask the City to:

• Retain natural grass as the playing surface at Ahern Field
• Invest in a professionally designed and well-maintained grass field
• Improve amenities such as seating, shade, and play areas without eliminating natural green space

By choosing natural grass, we can preserve Ahern Field as a safe, functional, and truly green space for the entire community.

We invite neighbors, families, athletes, and park users to add their names in support of keeping Ahern Field natural.