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District defends field treatments as necessary to keep athletic fields safe
Summary
After a resident letter raised concerns about pesticide use on school fields, district grounds staff said treatments are spot-applied under an integrated pest-management plan using EPA- and state-approved materials and that signage and notice are provided when applications occur.
A resident’s letter questioning pesticide use on Berkshire Hills athletic fields prompted a district response during the July 10 meeting.
Steve Soul spoke to the committee and the public about field maintenance practices. He said the contractor (identified in the discussion as True Green) uses materials approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and follows an integrated pest-management plan that targets grub infestations that can damage turf and create safety hazards. Soul said most of what is applied is fertilizer and that the active ingredients targeting pests comprise a small portion of the mixture.
He described standard legal requirements — including placing signage on fields and posting notices in the main office when applications occur — and said district staff and coaches are notified in advance. Soul said the treatments are intended to keep field surfaces playable and reduce injuries to athletes.
Committee members discussed how best to respond to the letter, whether to post the information online and how to provide residents with factual details; staff offered to post information and encourage the letter writer and others to contact the district office with questions.
