DEAR EDITOR:

Before making a decision about whether artificial grass is appropriate for Glover Park, I assume the decision makers will get all environmental studies completed first. Artificial turf is made of plastics and chemicals. It is not naturally occurring in nature. It will cover tree roots and although there is drainage, the birds will no longer have access to worms and organisms living in the earth. The small animals like squirrels and chipmunks will no longer have access to the ground that holds their food treasures for the cold winter. I am sure that a lot of the park's visitors appreciate the wildlife there as much as they do the concerts and other activities.

I understand the difficulty of growing grass during a drought. However, the city has an opportunity to turn Glover Park into a natural area that does not require excess watering and landscape it the way homeowners have had to over the past several years. For $200,000 you can cover the grassy areas with other types of ground covers and the city can learn to use organic fertilizers that help trees and plants hydrate themselves, rather than the easy-fix fertilizers that suck all moisture out of the ground.

I suggest the city talk with master gardeners and other professionals to find a solution for the grass issue in the park. Putting plastic and chemicals on the ground does not seem like a very healthy solution for humans or wildlife. Before jumping onto this bandwagon I hope we will take a look at other communities who have done the same thing. I suggest we take a look at natural areas covered with plastic and chemicals and see how their trees are doing after five or 10 years and get some idea of what to expect down the road.

If the city proceeds, I for one, predict we will be pulling it up in a few years at great expense to the tax payers. We better do our homework on this one. There is a better way.

Susan Binns
Marietta