The Westfield, NJ Edison Field Project is poised to replace most of the grass behind the Edison Middle school with synthetic turf. The plan was developed without a comparison of the health, financial and environmental impact of high-quality grass fields versus synthetic fields. 

Unless the Board of Education (BoE) hears from concerned parents, the plan will likely proceed in its current form because no town-wide vote is required to approve the $9M project. 

For additional context, there are 3 common types of sports fields: 

• SCHOOL YARDS: minimal maintenance and overuse cause patchy grass cover and compacted surface which lead to drainage issues, field closures and injuries (majority of Westfield sports fields)
• ARTIFICIAL TURF: made of plastic grass and crumb rubber (ground up tires) that contains known carcinogens, toxins and heavy metals, more expensive to install than grass turf, requires costly replacement about every 10 years (current plan for Edison, Memorial & Elm Street)
• NATURAL GRASS TURF: professionally designed and constructed for proper drainage, well-maintained for safety and increased playtime, lifecycle costs less than artificial, most temperate on hot days (to date, this option has not been seriously considered) 

By signing this petition, I express my support of:

1. Updating the Edison Field Project to install only grass turf instead of artificial turf

2. Ensuring equitable access to grass fields for all Westfield students, including those who attend Edison Middle School

3. Preserving and improving grass fields adjacent to all Westfield schools

I believe that we can increase field capacity while also ensuring that our school buildings are surrounded by grass for the enjoyment of our children. 

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If you recently moved to Westfield, please make sure your address settings reflect the update. 

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For more information:

Watch Mount Sinai Environmental Medicine & Public Health expert talk with teens about artificial turf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dTGz4H2JUI 

Visit: https://www.westfieldcrafd.org/