Some speakers demanded a referendum and more time to digest safety
information, but the all-Republican township council voted unanimously
to approve $2.6 million in new bonding, the bulk of which will pay for
artificial turf cover for three Toms River Regional school district
football fields.
Township Floats Bonds; School System Owns Turf
The bonds were endorsed by Democratic Mayor Paul Brush.
The Township of Dover local government will float the bonds and make
principal and interest payments.
The other three communities in the regional system, Pine Beach,
Beachwood and South Toms River, will pay nothing
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Michael Ritacco |
Turf Slide Show By Ritacco
School superintendent Michael Ritacco presented a slide show on the
artificial turf which, he said, is 50% safer than the old turf of a
decade ago.
Ritacco made no comments, however, as to whether the artificial
surface is as safe as conventional grass.
One speaker addressed the safety issue by quoting from the most recent
NFL playing surface survey which said 85% of the NFL players would
prefer grass to artificial surfaces.
Majority Of NFL Players Believe
Turf Will Shorten Their Careers
"There is still concern by a large majority of the 1500
players surveyed that playing on synthetic turf will shorten their
careers and leave them with quality-of-life issues after their
football careers are over," the survey said.
But the majority of the audience of about 120 residents, including
contingents from the local Republican and Democrat clubs, were clearly
in favor of the turf bonds, and the bonds were approved without a
referendum.
