Artificial turf war divides Montclair, NJ

A turf war is spreading across New Jersey.

A contentious dispute over a plan to install artificial turf in an athletic field at Montclair has become the latest example of growing concern on both sides of the Hudson River about the environmental and health effects of the material. Critics of artificial grass say it creates heat islands, and worry that the “crumb rubber” used in the subsurface is toxic. Supporters of the turf say it requires less maintenance and is easier on young athletes’ bodies.

But the debate over plans for an $8 million synthetic turf varsity baseball field with batting cages, bullpens and more at Woodman Field has devolved to an unusual degree.

“They’re taking the garden out of the Garden State, everywhere,” said Montclair resident Anna Grossman. “And we are paying for it with our health and we are paying for it with our tax money, too.”

Critics of the project have teamed up with advocates in neighboring communities who are waging their own campaigns against artificial turf. The Board of Education, which is spearheading the renovations, has responded with a lawsuit seeking to uphold approvals of the project scheduled to be finished this spring. The board did not respond to inquiries, but critics say it’s an attempt to ram the project through despite opposition.

“In a town, in a state where we consider ourselves top on our environmental game this is an atrocity that’s happened here in Montclair, N.J.,” said Allison Sargent, who has lived across the street from the field for more than 70 years.

Residents from six neighboring communities waging their own fights against turf are also involved in the debate over Woodman Field. It’s gotten so nasty that Westfield resident Jean Lehmberg said when she goes to the grocery store “I feel like I have a target on my back.”

The activism comes amid growing national awareness about artificial turf, which requires less maintenance than a grass field. The union representing NFL players has…