EDITORIAL: Participate in discussion about high school field

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The school board last Thursday listened to a presentation from an engineer at a Seattle athletic field architecture firm about the pros and cons of natural grass versus artificial turf at Vashon High School’s athletic field, and it is urging the public to join the conversation.

Vashon Island School District board chair Bob Hennessey said that he wants to see “robust discussion” from islanders about the options. He also said the board will not be the entity making a decision about the field, calling the issue “very complicated.”

Indeed there are many choices when it comes to replacing the high school’s soggy soil-based field with something better. On the natural turf side, a sand-based field can offer more drainage, but does not offer a solution to the school district’s high water bills necessary for irrigating the field.

On the artificial turf side, a synthetic surface promises an end to irrigation, but a higher initial expense and concern over the safety of the field’s infill material.

While crumb rubber — made from old tires — is the cheapest and most popular infill, recent worries about its potential for causing health problems, including cancer, have made some, including islanders, wary. But there are many alternatives to crumb rubber, including natural cork and coconut fibers, each with their own lists of pros and cons.

The presentation on Thursday was attended by less than 10 islanders, an unacceptable number given the amount of people that spoke up about the field on social media and in the community during the first bond effort in February.

The field will be a true community asset, open to everyone who wants to or needs to use it; that is why there is so much consideration and effort going into it. Hennessey said that if the district were to build a field only for itself, the choice would be easy: grass. However, since there are so many people using the field, Hennessey said that the focus has been turned to consider the heavy use and ease of maintenance.

The public needs to make their voices heard and, more importantly, ask questions. No one should vote for something that they feel they do not know enough about to make an informed decision, so get questions answered and concerns addressed.

The school board should also reach out and ensure that there are multiple avenues for islanders to get educated about the issue. Not everyone can make it to late-night meetings.

Multiple public meetings are scheduled for the fall with the same engineer scheduled to speak again. Every islander who pays taxes and can vote on this upcoming bond should attend.