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Residents urge board to preserve natural grass, citing health and environmental risks of proposed synthetic turf
Summary
Members of the Millburn Environmental Commission and residents urged the board to avoid synthetic turf, citing heat, injury risks, PFAS and microplastics, and presented a 20‑year economic analysis arguing upgraded natural grass can be less costly over time.
During public comment at the Feb. 25 meeting, several residents and an Environmental Commission representative urged the Board of Education to reconsider using public funds for a proposed synthetic turf project, and to prioritize renovating and maintaining natural grass fields instead.
A speaker representing the Millburn Environmental Commission said the commission adopted a resolution urging the township committee and the board to stop funding synthetic turf projects and to prioritize safe, nontoxic natural grass fields. The representative cited concerns about surface heat, turf‑specific injuries and possible chemical exposures, and said the open‑space trust fund was intended to support natural recreation and conservation rather than plastic fields.
Resident Gregory Lemberg presented a 20‑year economic analysis (submitted to the board) based on a Westfield example and argued that maintaining and upgrading grass fields — through aeration, overseeding, periodic sod replacement and improved drainage/irrigation — can deliver better playing conditions for a fraction of the up‑front cost and a lower lifetime total cost. "I implore you to consider upgrading your natural grass fields before destroying acres of a natural ecosystem and replacing it with tens of thousands of pounds of plastic," Lemberg said.
A parent speaker raised concerns that artificial turf contributes to microplastic pollution in waterways and said possible off‑gassing of components could include endocrine disruptors; she urged the board to weigh long‑term health consequences for children who will play on the surfaces.
Board members heard the comments; no formal vote on a turf project was held that night. During discussion later in the meeting, a board member noted that Millburn is not currently able to conduct a local referendum on such projects under the municipality’s existing governance structure, and that the district will continue to review public input and cost analyses as the project moves forward.
