To the Editor:
In response to a recent letter (June 30, “Fields are about the future”) from David Wallis, president of MV@Play, many people have asked me why I am against MV@Play’s plan to install artificial turf fields at the high school. My simple answer is, Their reasoning does not make sense.
The high school athletes, not the Island community, do need improved facilities. This can be achieved with natural grass.
The high school track is in bad condition, but not “condemned” by the MIAA as claimed by MV@Play during its presentation to the high school committee. The growth of sports has not stressed the fields to a breaking point.
This is due to mismanagement and lack of maintenance of the fields. Has anyone bothered to diagnose why the existing fields are not healthy, and if so, what has been done to address those issues? I’m guessing “no” and “nothing.”
As for adult leagues, surely they are capable of organizing and funding their own fields.
Yes, this Island is very special. Why do you want to change that?
As witnessed, in past and present, MVRHS already has all it needs for success: talented, dedicated, determined student athletes.
Artificial turf does not create success. Are you telling me that the top soccer clubs in the world, which play on natural grass, would stand no chance against, say, the Seattle Sounders or the New England Revolution (top MLS clubs)?
There is nothing healthy about artificial turf. If you (as the president of MV United) had been at the recent MTOC tournament, to watch MV United U18 Girls (the only MV team there) you would have witnessed the terrible conditions: Players from all teams were complaining about heat from the plastic fields, and supporters were moving off the fields to stand on the cooler asphalt. The playing surface was not in perfect condition.
Time is not our worst enemy. Time, in this case, is our friend, allowing us to fully investigate the pros and cons of plastic grass. Can you provide the evidence of when the track is going to be condemned and who has the authority to condemn it?
Or is this another falsehood like the claims you made, before the high school committee vote, that MV@Play is a registered nonprofit, that replacement carpets cost $350,000, and that there is no lead in plastic fields?
The projected volume you talk of is a problem you are bringing to the high school. All ages — really? Let the high schoolers have their high school.
Your biggest challenge, it seems to me, is to regain the trust of the members of this community, a community your cohorts have disrespected, lied to, insulted, laid blame on, and accused of being against improving the high school fields. Good luck with that.
I have nothing to say in regards to the high school committee vote, except thank you Robert Lionette and Theresa Manning.
As for MV United’s decision to to endorse MV@Play’s project, that was a complete shocker to me. Especially with you being the president of both organizations. As a show of your character, I would appreciate you editing that line to read “MV United’s board of directors (bar one), and (not) the MV United parents and players, have endorsed our project.”
There are a few questions in this and my earlier response to Robert Smith’s letter. I’m glad you welcome my input, but if you could just answer my questions, that would be great.
We do not need all ages playing on the fields together; they should be with their peers playing their games and having fun.
As for mixing adult (I’m presuming mainly male) players with teenagers, I trust you personally will ensure my stepdaughter’s safety?
Dave Miller
West Tisbury
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