To the editor:

I must say that after reading Ms. Zahn’s letter to the editor on May 8, (“Artificial turf vs. grass”) I felt compelled to reply to her outlandish statistics and green agenda comments.

First, it is obvious that the letter writer has very limited, if any, knowledge of high school athletics other than what was read in a journal or publication. All of the statistics regarding injuries on artificial turf were quotes about NFL players. Today’s NFL players average: weight (245 pounds), height (6-foot-2-inches) and run the 40 yard dash in 4.58 seconds and are specialized position players. I can guarantee you that this is a far cry from the size of an average NYSPHSAA football player. So I would definitely say the writers using NFL information to justify why more injuries are caused by artificial turf are flawed and misleading. Injuries are going to occur no matter what type of surface the competition is played on.

Secondly, the writer tries to entice her readers into believing that somehow artificial turf is bad for the environment. I would like to know how much green house gas is emitted while mowing (don’t forget the summer months) and maintaining the current sod field. Do we fertilizer the field in the off season? Oh, that’s right, soon we’ll be using electric mowers with lithium batteries that have no entirely safe way of disposal and are environmentally counter productive to manufacture.

Lastly, this new turf field will fit into the new DEI philosophy. Diversity — allowing all sports (women and men) to play games and practice on a multi-use facility; equity — both women and men equal use of the facility by allowing football (women’s flag and men’s), soccer (women’s and men’s), lacrosse (women and men), track field events (women and men) as well as physical education classes (women and men); and inclusion — allow all women and men in our community the opportunity to use the multi-functional facility for various events.

So when considering the issue of artificial playing surface, I would ask taxpayers to consider the benefits to our students and athletes. Welcome and embrace the opportunities this type of facility will present to them. Many naysayers will try to make this appear to be a luxury when it is actually a necessity.

Ed Goetz

SLCSD taxpayer

Saranac Lake