Dec 6, 2007
ONALFO FIELD:
Hearing set on artificial turf
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A proposal to expand the Onalfo playing field and convert it to artificial turf will be the subject of a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 9, the Board of Selectmen has decided.
The proposed expansion and returfing of Onalfo was defeated in last year’s budget referendum, but this fall more than 1,100 Ridgefielders signed a petition to bring the proposal back for another town vote.
By town charter, the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance must now hold a public hearing on the plan, and then it will be sent to a vote within 45 days from the hearing.
Supporters point to the deterioration of the town’s playing fields, which they say are worn out from overuse. They say the fields are in such critical condition that sports organizations will have to start turning away players.
But some soccer parents are troubled by recent reports that artificial turf may pose health hazards to young children.
“No one wants children to be ‘told they cannot play,’ but isn’t that better than telling a young adult they have cancer?” asked Stacey Mesler, who has requested soccer officials to “proceed with caution” rather than rush to returf the field with a synthetic surface.
Both sides are expected to turn out for the hearing, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The first selectman’s office said the meeting location would probably be “in a larger venue” than the town hall conference room where the selectmen usually meet. The location will be announced.
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