MCPS does not, and cannot, maintain the grass fields. They are all over-used due to the massive shortage of fields throughout the county - ESs in the county were originally built for 350-450 kids. Now, MCPS regularly builds to 700+ kids. Double the number of kids, double the wear and tear during recess, PE, and community use after school. So you end up with bare patches, which are hard as a rock in summer, and mud pits after the rain, not to mention aiding in the addition of divots that turn into ankle breakers and knee injuries. Same for MSs, and HSs.

Turf is a one-time expense for 12 years (newer turf), has no PFAs, is cooler, and can be 100% recycled. And, gets way more use than the grass that MCPS installs and then forgets about.

Ask the Churchill booster club how much they spend annually maintaining their grass field and what chemicals go into maintaining the field, and then see if MCPS will cover that for all schools

And we agree that MCPS should have been fixing the HVAC issues, they should have for years. I maintain it is not either or, it should be both

Anonymous wrote:No, they cannot. See Magruder's disastrous grass field as just one exame. And why don't schools like Watkins Mill and Quince Orchard have turf? Those kids should have decent fields as well - they are used by the entire school (PE and athletics) and the community for years. It's an equity issue. Please ignore the very vocal minority that advocates against turf - newer turf doesn't have the same problems as the older turf (chemicals, injuries, heat, recycling)

The HVAC has been a disaster for decades. It should not be either or, it should be both

Of course MCPS could hire maintenance crews for natural grass fields. There is no law that prohibits them from doing that.

New turf has exactly the same issues. It is still a big sheet of plastic. It is still a heat island. It still can’t be recycled and is dumped in Southern Virginia in a high poverty community by MCPS. It still had injuries when the plastic seams come apart etc…. Nothing has changed.

But new turf has one big change, it is massively more expensive.

Yes, MCPS could have been fixing HVAC systems instead of putting down heat islands.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital vs Operating budget. Different pools of money that can't be mixed.

So more like a 1MM turf field means someone else has an HVAC system struggling longer.

It also means they don’t have to pay someone to mow it every week for fifty years.

The moment pearl clutching meets reality. The annual contract for maintaining grass sports fields is $20K-$50K depending on size, grass type, terrain, etc.

MCPS often will not cover field maintenance expenses in athletic budgets of turf was an option and so that cost shifts to booster clubs or PTAs.

But here’s the real mindblower. The “community” resistance to the first turf field at RM was astroturfed (no pun intended) by a person with family connections to a lawn maintenance company with fat MCPS field maintenance contracts.

This isn’t an issue unless you just believe there should be no sports at MCPS high schools which I have heard espoused by some of the ridiculous fringe of MCPS parents.

No, they cannot. See Magruder's disastrous grass field as just one exame. And why don't schools like Watkins Mill and Quince Orchard have turf? Those kids should have decent fields as well - they are used by the entire school (PE and athletics) and the community for years. It's an equity issue. Please ignore the very vocal minority that advocates against turf - newer turf doesn't have the same problems as the older turf (chemicals, injuries, heat, recycling)

The HVAC has been a disaster for decades. It should not be either or, it should be both

For that money they can hire landscapers to maintain the grass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital vs Operating budget. Different pools of money that can't be mixed.

No. Artificial turf is paid through the Operating Budget. It has been for years. One year Field Trip fees were used.

The MCPS Operating and Capital budget funds are mixed all the time. There is no oversight so MCPS regularly mixes the funds. They even have people paid out of the Capital Budget.

I thought that the upcoming 6-year CIP had turf field funding in it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital vs Operating budget. Different pools of money that can't be mixed.

So more like a 1MM turf field means someone else has an HVAC system struggling longer.

Approximately 40% of MCPS have HVAC replacement needs. I don't get the choices made in this school district.

Anonymous wrote:Money is available for football fields but not summer programs.

Couldn't that $ have been used to plow snow last month?

Anonymous wrote:Capital vs Operating budget. Different pools of money that can't be mixed.

No. Artificial turf is paid through the Operating Budget. It has been for years. One year Field Trip fees were used.

The MCPS Operating and Capital budget funds are mixed all the time. There is no oversight so MCPS regularly mixes the funds. They even have people paid out of the Capital Budget.

AND the plastic carpet wears out and has to be replaced by 8 years (longer an it is no longer safe for the students)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital vs Operating budget. Different pools of money that can't be mixed.

So more like a 1MM turf field means someone else has an HVAC system struggling longer.

It also means they don’t have to pay someone to mow it every week for fifty years.

Actually they have to groom it with a tractor and special attachment at least every week to keep the infill in pace and protecting the students. If they don't the students are less and less protected as the plastic blades mat down and the infill washes off . So yeah- there is still a lot of maintenance work that needs to be done on the plastic fields

Do we think this might have led to Seth Adams resignation? Not sure how turf is part of ADA compliance

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2024/07/mcps-seth-adams-tricked-board-of-ed.html

This seems like a huge misuse of funds and a dangerous one for our children. If I had an athlete that was spending a significant amount of time on turf, in the heat, breathing heavily while engaging in sport, I would be really concerned. The possible risks are just too great for the temporary benefits. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10262297/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, playing outside is the priority. The grass fields have been destroyed. They are full of mud pitts, bald spots, and rocks.
With turf, you can still play outside in the rain, and it costs less in the long run. MCPS cannot afford to care for grass, because it's not the priority. Playing outside is, therefore, turf. And, the recent new HSs turf fields are funded by MCPS (Seneca Valley, Northwood, Woodward), not any private clubs

Artificial costs more. Always has.

Not if you don't want it to be a solid, baked red clay surface. 4 to 8 hours a day of PE and practice - day after day - takes a quick toll on real grass.

Anonymous wrote:No, playing outside is the priority. The grass fields have been destroyed. They are full of mud pitts, bald spots, and rocks.
With turf, you can still play outside in the rain, and it costs less in the long run. MCPS cannot afford to care for grass, because it's not the priority. Playing outside is, therefore, turf. And, the recent new HSs turf fields are funded by MCPS (Seneca Valley, Northwood, Woodward), not any private clubs

Artificial costs more. Always has.