Patrice Letter to S.F. Chron - Marisa Lagos

here is a copy of the letter i sent to the chronicle and the reply i received.

not too inspiring is it? i haven't even touched on the impact on wildlife yet!

that subject is just so big i don't have a clear starting point- i start to sputter and have high blood pressure. p

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Lagos, Marisa" 
Date: October 20, 2008 4:48:52 PM PDT


To: "Patrice Hickox" 
Subject: RE: field turf blues



Thanks for the note, Patrice!



-----Original Message-----


From: Patrice Hickox 


Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 11:18 AM


To: Lagos, Marisa


Subject: field turf blues




dear ms. lagos,

my name is patrice hickox and i have been waging a small 

campaign in marin county for several years against the installation of field turf on the

 county's playing fields. thank you 

for presenting both sides of the argument in today's article. i'm sure 

you will get many emails so i will keep mine brief...

in marin county, artificial fields have not become the friendly 

neighborhood gathering spots for families. 

most of them are surrounded by chain link fences

 that are locked to keep out undesirable elements. 

 these elements are often listed on the

 large signs posted at the entrances to these 

fields.  they begin with the word NO in letters at least six inches high

, and they include dogs, bicycles, tricycles,

 strollers, roller skates, skateboards, golf clubs, remote control 

vehicles,  motorcycles, pogo sticks, barbecues,

 picnics, canned or bottled beverages, gum, and yes, even the dreaded 

'sunflower seeds.’! it seems that these fields 

of rubber and plastic are far less durable than the old fashioned

 grass or even a vacant lot. while its certainly true that 

grass needs to be mowed and watered, field turf needs to vacuumed,

 unless all the surrounding trees are removed.

 not very 'green' in the age of green.  And, speaking of green, let's 

think about that color- never changing, always

 one uniform shade of insect and oxygen and worm free green plastic.

 how lovely! i could go on... but you get the 

picture. field turf is a sad, ugly and unfortunate excuse for a 

playing field.



patrice hickox

fairfax, ca.