Dear Steve,

Thanks for your comments. The motivation for our consideration of
turf is to improve the utility of the field for both school and
community uses. We will most certainly be taking a close look at the
evidence on health, safety and environmental aspects of grass vs.
turf as part of this analysis. I have copied Ahmad Sheikholeslami,
our facility planner/program manager, so that he is also aware of
your comments.

Another area of concern that we've heard is fear that children will
not like the way it feels to play on turf. Given that you and your
children have actually had a significant amount of playing experience
on the various turf fields in the area, what has been your experience
from a comfort and playability standpoint? Do they enjoy playing on
turf as much as they enjoy playing on grass?

Best Regards,

Terry Thygesen
President, Board of Trustees
Menlo Park City School District

On Mar 31, 2007, at 1:38 PM, Steve Zuckerman wrote:

> City Council Members and Board Members,
>
>
>
> I'm sure you have more to read than you have time, so I'll keep
> this very brief.
>
>
>
> I have three children, all of whom played little league and AYSO
> soccer, and two of whom now play CYSA soccer with the MP Strikers
> FC. I believe there is a drastic shortage of field space for our
> kids that is significantly constraining their recreational
> opportunities, and that the town should be doing everything it can
> to relieve those constraints. I understand that you both will be
> considering the possibility of using artificial turf when
> renovating the playing fields at Encinal School. I would like to
> urge you to give that possibility serious consideration. A few
> thoughts.
>
>
>
> · I have heard there are some residents that are urging you
> to reject this plan out of hand, I believe on environmental
> grounds. I hope you will not succumb to this vocal minority, as
> the issue is worthy of full and even-handed analysis.
>
> · Artificial surfaces do not add field space, but they do
> add meaningfully to the available time for use.
>
> · While I am predisposed to support the plan, I do think a
> careful evaluation should be made of both the pros and cons of turf
> fields – of which there are many. In the end, I believe the
> benefits to our community will far outweigh the costs, but I can’t
> claim to have done sufficient analysis personally to draw that
> conclusion. I hope that you and your staffs will do just that.
>
> · I think the issue of funding the project and controlling/
> allocating field use is a very complicated one. I understand that
> AYSO may be in a position to contribute excess funds to help defray
> the cost. I think it would be great for them, and other community
> sports groups to help however they can. But I think it will be
> dangerous to establish a “priority for pay” system, for several
> reasons:
>
> o If any funding comes from the town itself, all residents
> should be able to benefit.
>
> o It would create a very cumbersome system, and in
> negotiating field rights, it seems impossible to understand
> “fairness” now for situations that will undoubtedly evolve over time.
>
> o There will likely be more opportunities to convert fields
> to turf in the future, and it seems impractical to create such
> arrangements again and again, with different organizations having
> different “claims” on different fields.
>
> o Finally, it seems that this would best be handled through
> the town creating an agreement with the schools, then marshalling
> the full resources of the interested community members and
> organizations for funding, and managing the fields to the
> appropriate and best interests of the community as a whole.
>
>
>
> Thanks you for “listening” and again, I hope you will give this
> plan the full consideration that it deserves.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> Steve Zuckerman
Received on Sat Mar 31 14:54:48 2007