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Sports

Override Aftermath: Town Says No To Turf

Voters soundly rejected Question 8, the proposal to build a synthetic turf field at Marblehead High School.

In a resounding vote of 4,097 to 1,723, Marblehead residents decided against resurfacing Sgt. Christopher Piper Field with artificial material Tuesday during the special election.

Conceivably, one of the biggest problems for Marblehead residents is the final bill for the project. Many locals claim a synthetic field is not a sound purchase during a time of economic recession.

Marblehead Youth Football President and chairman of the citizen Field Turf Committee, Bruce Bial, estimated the cost at $1.5 million, with repair fees averaging $300,000 every 10 years.

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Though disappointed, high school football coach Jim Rudloff understands the decision, citing "the economic times and the large menu of items we were wedged in the middle of," as key reasons for the failed proposal.

Although the turf field bears a hefty price tag, supporters argue the addition would have saved the town money in the long run.

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Costs accrued by Piper Field include constant maintenance from members of the Parks and Recreation Department, and additional fees from renting nearby synthetic fields when weather renders Piper Field unusable.

Besides lowering costs, a major platform for the field was "Save the Earth, Vote for Turf." Supporters deem the turf a more environmentally friendly option because it does not require the current 300,000 gallons of water and various pesticides used each year to maintain Piper Field.

However, according to Marblehead resident Laura Berham, "It most definitely does not save the earth; it's actually an inappropriate use of the earth we're entrusted to protect."

Shredded tires make up the base of synthetic fields, and research shows these particles can contain dangerous levels of lead, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, chromiumand selenium, she said.

This creates a scenario for possible chemical run-off, which can end up in local bodies of water, including the ocean. Also, these chemicals can be very harmful if inhaled by athletes, according to Berham.

Another safety issue revolves around the increased heat-absorption properties of turf, which are considered dangerous to play on in extremely warm weather. On average, artificial fields are 10 degrees warmer than their grass counterparts, she said.

Despite those shortcomings, most athletes believe playing on turf increases their safety -- reducing slipping and cutting injuries common to wet and muddy grass conditions.

In the end, the disadvantages of an artificial field far outweighed the benefits for Marblehead voters. Bial said the committee has "listened to the voters and will come back with a better plan because we think there's a tremendous value in having a turf field."

Coach Rudloff remains optimistic for MHS athletics nonetheless, saying "whether or not our field is turf will not have an effect on our season next year."

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