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GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: A cutting-edge field is within reach Comment By Karl Kemper and Jay Hummel DailyTidings.com By Karl Kemper and Jay Hummel Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Karl Kemper and Jay Hummel Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News With incredible support from generous donors across our community, the Ashland School District is closing in on raising enough funds to install a multi-purpose, artificial turf field on the site of our current football field this summer. We are in the final fundraising push and will be making the decision regarding the type of turf (natural fill or crumb rubber) later this spring, depending on the success of our fundraising. If we are able to realize this dream as envisioned, we will build a state-of-the-art field that properly cares for the health and safety of Ashland’s children while conserving water and expanding outdoor athletic opportunities. We have designed the field for football and soccer, but it will also be a physical education space used by our other outdoor sports programs as well. We envision extending opportunities for using this all-weather field to youth and adult groups, making it an asset to the larger Ashland community. Artificial turf fields have come a long way from the original AstroTurf of the '80s and '90s. Teams that play on artificial turf typically see fewer injuries than teams that play on grass. Large studies show that today’s artificial turf fields are just as safe to play on as grass. There is no doubt there are considerable environmental benefits with turf fields. We will be able to minimize or eliminate irrigating the field along with completely eliminating the need for herbicides and fertilizer. When it is time to re-fill the field after about 10 years, the products used to make a crumb rubber turf field (made of chopped up used tires) are at least 95 percent recycled. Although there has been controversy in recent years about the perceived dangers of the crumb rubber fill, research has not found any health risks for athletes playing on these fields. Fields filled with crumb rubber tend to overheat and give off unpleasant fumes, especially during the warmer months. This makes these fields less desirable for use during the summer and early fall and has caused concern in our community about potential health effects. Although research has not definitively proven that there is a valid risk to athletes who play on crumb rubber fields, the turf field industry is headed in a new direction — toward natural fill material — and we have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge. There is now an innovative second option for the fill in artificial turf fields. Instead of crumb rubber, we can use a natural material made of coconut husks, rice fiber and cork, which would not have the odor, fumes and heat issues associated with crumb rubber. The natural fill makes the field more like playing on natural grass. On a hot summer day, a field with natural fill can be as much as 40 degrees cooler than a crumb rubber field because it cools itself much like a grass field. This option will cost $196,500 more than using crumb rubber, which increases the total cost of the project by 13 percent. Artificial turf fields are the wave of the future for outdoor athletic venues. Having our own multi-purpose, all-weather athletic field will give us opportunities for significantly higher use, along with lower maintenance, and it is an environmentally friendly, safer option for our children. The community of Ashland places a high value on fitness and healthy lifestyles for its kids, always being willing to invest its resources to support these values. This is one more time to do exactly that. The school district is working with the turf field contractor to find additional cost savings for the project and volunteer fundraisers from the soccer and football communities are working hard to get us to the point where we can sign the contract. But we need additional community support to get there. More information about the campaign and ways to donate can be found on the Ashland School District website: www.ashland.k12.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=2690. To donate or volunteer to help with fundraising, please contact the Ashland Schools Foundation at 541-482-8197. Karl Kemper is athletic director and assistant principal at Ashland High School. Jay Hummel is Ashland School District superintendent. By Karl Kemper and Jay Hummel DailyTidings.com By Karl Kemper and Jay Hummel Posted Feb. 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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