The construction of a new track and field at Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood and three new synthetic ball fields at Harris Park in Bedford Park has heated up a debate among local residents about which surface – grass or synthetic turf – is better and safer for city parks.

The new synthetic fields play like natural grass fields because they are infused with pellets made up of tire grounds, which give the fields more resilience. Grass advocates oppose the use of these tire “crumbs” because they contain carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) that may be harmful. Synthetic turf opponents also worry about high heat retention and the increased start-up cost of synthetic turf fields as well.

The Parks Department and the company FieldTurf counter with studies that claim the tire pellets are not harmful because the turf does not emit a high enough level of toxins to affect humans or the environment. They say that although synthetic fields cost more initially, they don’t require as much maintenance and that heat is not a problem.

Meetings for groups on both sides of the debate are being planned into the New Year. With the Parks Department planning to go ahead with its installation of synthetic turf in Bronx parks and natural grass supporters calling for a moratorium on construction until more research can be done on synthetic turf, this debate shows no signs of cooling down.