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Residents push to preserve turf fields, fund Wheaton stables and protect recreational access
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Summary
Testimony at a Montgomery County CIP hearing included opposition to converting a turf field to grass, an appeal to preserve Wheaton Park Stables funding, and calls for safer, healthier athletic fields and maintenance to serve diverse community users.
Dave Mota, speaking on behalf of more than 100 recreational soccer players, urged the council not to convert the turf field at the Nancy Dacek North Potomac Community Center to natural grass, arguing turf supports year-round play while grass would be unusable for months and require extended rest and maintenance cycles.
Stacy Pollard described the role of Wheaton Park Stables as a community asset for riding lessons, therapeutic visits and intergenerational programming, and urged the council to fully fund Montgomery County Parks improvements for the stables.
Hannah Donert (MCCPTA Health & Wellness Committee) asked the council to fund HVAC repairs, filtered hydration stations and healthier athletic fields, and recommended pausing installation of new synthetic turf until an RFP for real grass is completed and community engagement is held. Donert cited health and environmental concerns including PFAS and heat risks.
Speakers framed athletic-field policy as a tradeoff among access, health and maintenance costs: some residents urged preserving turf for continuous use, while health advocates recommended pausing new synthetic turf without a community-informed alternative and better environmental safeguards.
