To the editor:

We are faced with a choice in this election on whether to allow artificial turf (turf) at both the high and middle schools. Like many I do not support funding turf for the usual reasons:  potential pollution to our delicate nearby estuary, likely harmful human health effects of microplastics, likely higher rates of athletic injuries and increased costs of installing and maintaining the turf fields. 

While we should vote NO to turf we should use this as an opportunity to move forward on a robust town plan to better our community by solving two closely related issues simultaneously.  The first issue is that many people in town want more open space local to them and the second is many want the athletic practice and playing fields to be in better shape. How do we do this without installing artificial surfaces which will degrade our environment and potentially our health? The obvious answer to me is we create more fields like Bicknell Field in West Barrington. These areas will give people nearby open spaces to enjoy with their families and likewise they could be used for practice by the school teams so that the school fields get less use keeping them in better shape. Vote NO to artificial turf and yes to more local fields and open space.  

Richard Fahey 

Barrington