Maret, a private school located in Washington DC, has signed a renewable 50-year lease to use the Episcopal Center for Children (ECC) field as their new sports facility. Located over three miles away from their Maret campus, the ECC field is situated amidst a densely populated family neighborhood and within the Rock Creek watershed. Maret plans to install nearly four acres of artificial plastic turf with all its environmental and health risks, despite the community’s and neighbors’ repeated requests to reconsider natural turf for the field.
As a Chevy Chase community we are grappling with several pressing local issues and begging for our representatives to truly represent our interest. Installing nearly four acres of artificial plastic turf at ECC will have a profound effect on our quality of life, yet this decision is being made without our input and not in our community’s best interest. It is a decision that not only impacts the health of our community and our children but also the health of our environment, our oceans, and our planet Earth.
As concerned citizens who care about safety, environmental stewardship, and quality neighborhood life, we implore our elected representatives, city agencies and Maret School, to have the courage and foresight to protect our children, our community, and our environment. We urge them to reconsider their plans to install additional artificial plastic turf in our community. It’s time to choose our planet over plastics and make the sustainable choice for the sake of our shared future.
Please support this online petition to ask Maret School to choose natural grass for the fields at ECC.
Please feel free to share this message with your neighbors, friends, and family. Any personally identifi-able information provided to Friends of the Field will be kept in confidence.
Contact: [email protected] to sign in person or request more information.
Friends of the Field, an alliance of Chevy Chase neighbors, families, and concerned citizens, cares about safety, environmental stewardship, and quality neighborhood life. We work for transparent due process, inclusiveness, and thoughtful use of precious green space.
Updates
May 28, 2024
The silence from the school officials remains heavy but we are still out here working behind the scenes to challenge these plans. It is draining to keep pressing for basic environmental accountability while they look the other way. I am not stepping back from this fight.
May 28, 2024
Seeing the count climb this high feels heavy given how much we are still fighting against. It is draining to keep pushing while they ignore us but your reaction confirms this is a battle worth having.
Reached 100 supporters
May 28, 2024
71 Comments
Please use only natural grass for your sports fields. Not only does artificial turf pose an environmental risk, it is dangerous for athletes. Look at all of the issues the NFL is having with certain stadium surfaces, they are all shifting to real grass because of the amount of injuries.
Given the negative affects on our children's health and the environment, it's hard to believe we (especially enlightened communities like Maret) are still putting in turf fields. Do a couple rained out games a season really impact our kids that negatively that we are willing to risk their health and the health of the planet they are to inherit?
Concerned as someone whose family lives right next to the field and will be breathing in the harsh chemicals given off particularly during the super hot DC summer months.
Maret has already scarred the environment by removing more than 60 trees from the site. Artificial turf would be a further assault on the environment and an additional slap in the face to the community. Does Maret care about their new neighbors?
As a former Maret faculty member well acquainted with Maret's environmental values, I urge Maret to act on these values and step back from its decision to install turf.
In addition to the environmental problems, artificial turf is harmful for the children - with a higher risk of heat stroke and heat burns.
Absolutely do not do this! Forever chemicals are getting inside our water and food systems --. This has to stop. It's privatized benefit with public or socialized risk.
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Maret, a private school located in Washington DC, has signed a renewable 50-year lease to use the Episcopal Center for Children (ECC) field as their new sports facility. Located over three miles away from their Maret campus, the ECC field is situated amidst a densely populated family neighborhood and within the Rock Creek watershed. Maret plans to install nearly four acres of artificial plastic turf with all its environmental and health risks, despite the community’s and neighbors’ repeated requests to reconsider natural turf for the field.
As a Chevy Chase community we are grappling with several pressing local issues and begging for our representatives to truly represent our interest. Installing nearly four acres of artificial plastic turf at ECC will have a profound effect on our quality of life, yet this decision is being made without our input and not in our community’s best interest. It is a decision that not only impacts the health of our community and our children but also the health of our environment, our oceans, and our planet Earth.
As concerned citizens who care about safety, environmental stewardship, and quality neighborhood life, we implore our elected representatives, city agencies and Maret School, to have the courage and foresight to protect our children, our community, and our environment. We urge them to reconsider their plans to install additional artificial plastic turf in our community. It’s time to choose our planet over plastics and make the sustainable choice for the sake of our shared future.
Please support this online petition to ask Maret School to choose natural grass for the fields at ECC.
Please feel free to share this message with your neighbors, friends, and family. Any personally identifi-able information provided to Friends of the Field will be kept in confidence.
Contact: [email protected] to sign in person or request more information.
Friends of the Field, an alliance of Chevy Chase neighbors, families, and concerned citizens, cares about safety, environmental stewardship, and quality neighborhood life. We work for transparent due process, inclusiveness, and thoughtful use of precious green space.
Updates
May 28, 2024
The silence from the school officials remains heavy but we are still out here working behind the scenes to challenge these plans. It is draining to keep pressing for basic environmental accountability while they look the other way. I am not stepping back from this fight.
May 28, 2024
Seeing the count climb this high feels heavy given how much we are still fighting against. It is draining to keep pushing while they ignore us but your reaction confirms this is a battle worth having.
Reached 100 supporters
May 28, 2024
71 Comments
Multiple states have already banned artificial turf and PFAS due to the harm they cause. More bans are likely to happen. Please switch to natural grass to preserve the future of our planet, our city, and your students.
Please use only natural grass for your sports fields. Not only does artificial turf pose an environmental risk, it is dangerous for athletes. Look at all of the issues the NFL is having with certain stadium surfaces, they are all shifting to real grass because of the amount of injuries.
Given the negative affects on our children's health and the environment, it's hard to believe we (especially enlightened communities like Maret) are still putting in turf fields. Do a couple rained out games a season really impact our kids that negatively that we are willing to risk their health and the health of the planet they are to inherit?
Concerned as someone whose family lives right next to the field and will be breathing in the harsh chemicals given off particularly during the super hot DC summer months.
Maret has already scarred the environment by removing more than 60 trees from the site. Artificial turf would be a further assault on the environment and an additional slap in the face to the community. Does Maret care about their new neighbors?
As a former Maret faculty member well acquainted with Maret's environmental values, I urge Maret to act on these values and step back from its decision to install turf.
In addition to the environmental problems, artificial turf is harmful for the children - with a higher risk of heat stroke and heat burns.
Absolutely do not do this! Forever chemicals are getting inside our water and food systems --. This has to stop. It's privatized benefit with public or socialized risk.
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Multiple states have already banned artificial turf and PFAS due to the harm they cause. More bans are likely to happen. Please switch to natural grass to preserve the future of our planet, our city, and your students.