The lack of even one protester was a bit odd, considering all of the drama over the installation of synthetic turf in Cadman Plaza Park in 
Brooklyn Heights
(technically Downtown Brooklyn).
At one point, the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, New Yorkers for Parks and major veterans groups opposed the syn-turf.
But since its installation, soccer teams and private school groups have been using the field, and the community has given plaudits to the overall design. In addition to the controversial installation of synthetic turf, the $2.9 million reconstruction included new tree and shrub plantings, a refurbished running path, benches and more.
Knowing how to put on a show, Brooklyn Special Events brought in the press, dozens of flags, the Kings County American Legion and a cute bunch of preschool kids for the ribbon-cutting. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Councilman David Yassky (who provided major funding) threw a Frisbee around with a group of kids from Brooklyn Friends School who happened to be celebrating their last day of school at the park.
And nobody said anything about toxic turf issues.
UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle reports that Walt Whitman Park (right across the street in front of the Office of Emergency Management) will also be restored with a $2.5 million allocation of federal funds.
'Turf' War Erupts Over So-Called Dust Bowl in Cadman Plaza: New York Sun
Just Say No to Artificial Turf: Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Whose Turf? Cadman Park Controversy: Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Toxic Park in Brooklyn Heights? McBrooklyn
Parks Dept. Refuses to Study Synthetic Turf Health Risks: McBrooklyn
Photos by MK Metz
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
With Hoopla But No Protests, Brooklyn's Astroturfed Cadman Plaza Park Unveiled
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5 comments:
Much better than the dust bowl.
Is Artificial Turf Hazardous to Your Health?
See: http://www.junipercivic.com/LatestNewsArticle.asp?nid=156
See if you get worried too.
If the Parks Department has put the $3 million into restoring the natural grass (as they have on the north side of the park, with excellent results)it would look just as good and wouldn't be toxic.
For what it's worth, FIFA says turf w/ recycled tire granules is safe:
http://www.seriousrecreation.com/turf_news_fifa_no_cancer_risk_with_rubber.htm
I think turf is an ideal solution for playing fields - and I love the stuff at Cadman plaza.
I hope they put a nice turf field in the middle of Fort Greene park - which is now a giant dust bowl.
I wonder if the Parks Department will keep it up? I sometimes go to the Red Hook field, and it's starting to look really flat and kind of grungy. Cigarette butts and all that stuff. How do they clean these fields anyway? Like do they send in the rug cleaners?
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