The Parkland School District will install an artificial surface at the high school soccer field after directors approved the measure in a 5-4 vote Tuesday night.
Directors Lisa Adams, David Kennedy, David Hein, and Robert Bold provided the dissenting votes.
Termed as "no longer a nice-to-have option," by Superintendent Richard Sniscak, the turf will provide the traction for the district's soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams, costing the district about $1.47 million in the process.
The turf is expected to be installed next summer and be ready for action in the fall.
It has a life expectancy of about 10 years and is expected to save the district money over that time, according to the administration, and the installation would have "no impact on the local taxpayer," Sniscak said.
Prior to the vote, several individuals associated with the district's soccer programs addressed directors in favor of the artificial surface.
"It presents the district with greater opportunities," said district resident Peter Berk. "I'm in full support of installing turf."
Two reports that aired on an NBC-TV newscast last month suggested that items used to make artificial turf could cause cancer in the athletes that play on the surface.
In his comments Tuesday night, Sniscak said the district was "very concerned about safety" but at least at this time there has been no evidence established validating a linkage to cancer, even by the television network itself.
"It is much-needed to promote the growth of sports," said resident Kevin O'Neil during the public comment session of the fake grass.
He added that the report was "an unproven fact and you cannot base a decision on an unproven fact."
Sniscak added that Parkland has been conservative in their approach to installing the artificial surface and is actually one of the last district's in the conference to install it.
The current grass field is not easy to maintain due to heavy usage by several athletic teams and harsh weather in the late fall and winter.
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