The Reston Citizens Association: RCA Resolution on Artificial Turf Playing Fields

Reston Citizens Association Resolution

Artificial Turf Playing Fields

November 27, 2017

Whereas, RCA recognizes the need for Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure that there are adequate athletic facilities to meet the demand from schools, community groups and the public at large;

Whereas, artificial turf athletic fields offer an effective way to meet this demand by allowing for greatly increased playing hours;

Whereas, RCA acknowledges that recycled tire crumb, while currently approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, is under study[1] by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and that many public groups have expressed concern with tire crumb;

Whereas, RCA has learned that alternatives to tire crumb exist including organic infill,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The Reston Citizens Association requests that the County create a framework to allow community groups to voluntarily raise funds to cover the difference in price between infill materials if community groups feel more comfortable with alternative infill materials.
The County should continue to monitor further studies by relevant bodies and take appropriate actions.
RCA strongly recommends that the relevant authorities add signage similar to Exhibit 1 that provides users of synthetic turf fields with best practices regarding safe use.