Report backs artificial turf proposal

Westmount is considering replacing the natural grass of two soccer playing fields with a durable synthetic surface just south of Westmount Park. According to the City, demand for use of the grass playing fields has almost doubled in recent years, especially through the growing popularity of soccer.

According to the City, with high utilization rates, grass may be unable to grow back, while the playing surface also degenerates.

However, some residents, citing evidence of their own, have expressed concerns on the potential environmental impact or health risks of the synthetic turf alternative.

The report, produced by the environmental consulting firm Golder Associates, was tabled last Monday evening in city council.

Among its findings on the general characteristics of synthetic turf, it states that green polyethylene fibres, which imitate the look and feel of natural grass in synthetic turf, are odourless, stable when exposed to heat and light, have negligible solubility in water, and are not listed as carcinogens or potential carcinogens.

According to the report, silica sand, which can be a component of the turf's black rubber "infill" layer, "may cause irritation to the upper respiratory track" if inhaled. However, the type of sand that would be used at the playing fields would contain very low levels of fine particles, it adds.

The report's author, biologist Christine Guay, made site visits to two playing fields, in Dollard des Ormeaux and Kirkland, where there are comparable synthetic soccer surfaces and the persons responsible for them were interviewed.

"We observed no indication of a negative impact on the environment around the fields or deterioration of the product over time such as discolouration, degradation or specific odour of the product," she wrote. For maintenance, she noted that no chemical products are used and that no evidence of injury, allergy or discomfort due to synthetic playing field was reported.

However, the person responsible for the DDO park mentioned that temperature of the playing field surface rises during hot summer days and that it was necessary to install a sprinkler system to keep the playing field cool. In Kirkland, the caretaker reported no difference in temperature between synthetic turf and natural grass. But a study cited later in the report showed surface temperatures on synthetic turf rising by 35 to 60 degrees higher than natural grass.

Responding to concerns on a variety of issues raised by residents and which were submitted for the consultants' analysis, the report found no evidence that rubber tire particles used in synthetic turf products are hazardous to children, although it acknowledged that an information gap exists and additional scientific study should be conducted.

Investigating whether runoff from the turf could impact groundwater, Guay concluded, "given that the low potential leachability of the rubber infill material, the large distance to the nearest surface water body and the lack of reliance on groundwater as a drinking water supply, impacts to the health of local residents or aquatic life are not expected."

In the meantime, members of the Save the Park! group dedicated to fighting the installation of artificial turf have informed the Examiner that they have enlisted the aid of Prof. William Crain of New York's City University, who is currently conducting experiments with various turf materials. They have asked Crain "to persuade Canadian jurisdictions to contribute just a 'handful of pellets' for the testing regime he is now designing."

Also, Save The Park! has produced a more than 100-page resource guide of current research and information on the issue. They intend to give copies to Mayor Karin Marks and members of city council.

Public consultation on May 16

The City of Westmount has planned a public consultation meeting for Wednesday, May 16 in Victoria Hall, at which the matter will be discussed in detail. The public is invited to voice their opinion and hear analysis by a panel consisting of environmental consultants, landscape architects and playing field specialists.

Also, a special section of the City's website www.westmount.org) has been dedicated to the issue, as well as sketches of the three turf options proposed by the City, which were scheduled to appear on the website today.

“These images will give everyone a better sense of the aesthetics of this project, and how it could affect the overall look of the lower playing fields,” Marks said in a recent press release. “It is important to see that, whatever option is ultimately chosen by Council, the beauty of Westmount Park within the streetscape remains a preoccupation.”