“New Yorkers expect to play where they want, when they want,” said Adrian Benepe, the commissioner of parks and recreation. “Our biggest need is to make a lot of places where kids can play so we can address health risks like obesity.”But the use of turf has also prompted other health concerns, about the possible dangers posed by the materials used to make it, as well as its ability to soak up so much sunlight that it heats up to extreme temperatures.
On Playing Fields, Grass Is an Endangered Species
Scientists at Columbia University who analyzed satellite thermal images of New York City the past two summers concluded that synthetic turf fields were up to 60 degrees hotter than grass fields. They attributed the difference to the pigments used in making the turf, as well as the turf’s reliance on filaments that increase the surface area that soaks up heat. More important, the turf lacked grass’s ability to vaporize water and cool the air.
Stuart Gaffin, an associate research scientist at the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University, said the synthetic fields get almost as hot as a tar rooftop.
Photo from NY Times
5 comments:
So Benepe now believes that obesity can be cured by cancer-producing turf?
What's next? Artificial trees? Artificial flowers? Plastic birds and squirrels from the local big-box hardware store?
What is the life span of this turf before it must be replaced? At what cost?
What is the cost of a grass seed that will produce grass that is tough enough for sports? What is the maintenance cost of grass Vs artificial turf?
Benepe claims that he asked the Health Dept. to review the current research on synthetic turf.
If he were honest, why doesn't he simply respond to Dr. Crain's request that the turf itself be retested by an independent lab? Why look at the research? Look at the turf!
Why hasn't the Parks Committee of the NY City Council spoken up on this possible cancer producing artificial turf?
Why has Bloomberg been silent?
This artificial turf is wallowing in big money. Who's on the take? Who's on the make?
Any government's first responsibility is to protect all in its jurisdiction.
Why is NY City aggressively refusing to perform that basic duty? Why is it aggressively seeking to harm the most vulnerable people - the children and the elderly? For money?
There is something very perverse
in the NYC Parks Dept. advocating plastic
over real turf .
Let's try rearranging a a few letters and see
what the proper name for Adrian Benepe's domain should be properly called:
The New York City K-R-A-P-S Deptartment.....
instead of the NYC Parks Dept.
Major league baseball is moving away from that crap because it sucked and players were getting hurt playing on it.
Leading cause of cancer in 5 boroughs:
1. Benepe
2. Benepe
3. Benepe
In sum, reduce your chances of contracting cancer by eliminating Adrian Benepe & his brilliant ideas.
Anonymous said...
"Leading cause of cancer in 5 boroughs:
1. Benepe
2. Benepe
3. Benepe
In sum, reduce your chances of contracting cancer by eliminating Adrian Benepe & his brilliant ideas."
Benepe is responsible for this dangerous material and he and the turf (it's as artificial and as dangerous as he is) must be removed - pronto!
But, this is big, big money. The Commissar is setting himself up with the money from this arrangement too. Remember, for still another $44 Million (to start) he want this in all the children's school playgrounds.
Neither of this pair care who they kill to make more money.
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