Fighting for fields

• New York Times, Friday, January 29, 2010 12:30 PM

Carol Pogash reports on how difficult it is to build soccer fields for children in her look at the "nasty turf wars" in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Audubon Society, the Sierra Club and other organizations argue that the conversion of four grass fields to artificial turf in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park would threaten wildlife and the natural landscape.

In San Carlos, a plan to build two athletic fields with artificial turf has been fought for nine years. An opposition leader called synthetic turf "environmentally repulsive," even though it would allow for far more playing opportunities than natural grass.

In the East Bay City of Piedmont, the number of soccer players has doubled in the past 15 years, and philanthropic soccer parents have promised $8 million for two athletic fields. Opponents say plans would threaten the health of children and wildlife. "We're not proposing to put a coal mine here. We're talking about a playing field for children, said Eric Havian, president of the Piedmont Soccer Club.

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