May 8, 2017 2 min read

I am opposed to Bethel Park Council’s proposal to install artificial turf on the Village Green Park field.

My husband and I live next to the park. It is a laid back, pleasant place where you can walk across the grass and see honey bees feeding on the clover, watch dogs frolicking on the grass and in the snow in the winter, and enjoy the wildlife – rabbits, deer, squirrels, foxes and birds – on the grass and in the trees. We cross country ski on the field in the winter.

This enjoyment of nature will end if the grass is replaced with plastic. I agree that the field is rutted, but that is because the grass was cut when it was waterlogged and the field was used when too wet. Surely there is a way to manage a natural grass field so that it drains properly and is useable by teams as well as those who enjoy nature.

I fear that if this expensive project proceeds, the next will be to install lights in the park, which we successfully opposed years ago.

There are other Bethel Park fields that can be used by those who prefer artificial turf to grass. I ask council to please leave Village Green Park alone!

Janet R. Necessary

Bethel Park

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