Please sign here to support more research and review of the cost and environmental and player safety impacts of converting grass park fields in Delray, Alexandria (GW Middle School and Simpson Field) to to plastic fields and to assess the impact of field lighting on surrounding neighborhoods and to explore alternatives that address the need for available sports field playing time.

Alexandria City and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) plan to convert two beautiful real grass park fields in the Del Ray neighborhood at GW Middle School and Simpson Field into Plastic Fields with proposals this year 2022.

The rationale is to spend over $1M to convert plastic fields with a 10 year life and another $500k for lighting is to increase the playing time availability of sports fields.

Plastic fields are hot (50 degrees hotter than grass in summer), contain toxic chemicals (PFAS), increase water runoff, heat the planet, and create 40,000 of plastic waste every 10 years that cannot be recycled. The lights disrupt nearby homes.

See below a link to another community that carefully study the issues and impact of installing plastic grass fields

https://www.sustainablesharon.org/blog/9-reasons-t...

Thank you for your support.