HOBOKEN, N.J., May 1, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- After much controversy over the old nylon NexTurf field at Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJ, city officials have awarded an emergency contract to FieldTurf in order to replace the old turf with the FieldTurf system that is widely known as the safest turf on earth. FieldTurf will begin work on the field next week.
The NexTurf field was closed due to the fact that the nylon fibers of this old turf system contained levels of lead that were deemed to be unsafe. FieldTurf's polyethylene fibers, on the other hand, have been found to be completely safe for the environment.
"FieldTurf uses polyethylene fibers, not the nylon fibers that were suspect," said Joe Fields, FieldTurf Tarkett CEO. "Our fields were tested and found to be about 50 times below what the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission allows in Mr. Potato Head or in Lego. Our product reduces water consumption and pollution caused by chemical use, while increasing playing time, reducing injuries and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The safety of athletes and communities is, and always has been, the number one priority at FieldTurf."
The City of Hoboken is getting a turf system that has proven its safety for people of all ages on over 200 fields in the Garden State and over 2500 fields worldwide.
"We have done our research and believe that FieldTurf is safe for the environment and for all that play on the field. Our parents also believe this is the safest turf on the market," said City of Hoboken Mayor David Roberts. "What we are getting is a state-of-the-art field and I am so happy with this that we already have our engineers looking at ways to turn other areas such as rooftops and parking lots into areas with FieldTurf. We are extremely appreciative that FieldTurf is doing everything that they can to get our kids back on the field as soon as possible."
Recent testing by the New Jersey DHSS found trace amounts of lead in FieldTurf ranging between 1-1.6 parts per million (PPM). By comparison, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's acceptable concentration of lead in children's toys is 60 parts per million, with ground water being considered 'safe' with a lead content of 400 parts per million. Moreover, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, lead is found in the Earth's crust at about 15-20 PPM, so the concentration of lead in polyethylene turf fibers is actually well below the levels typically found in natural soil.
The installation of FieldTurf eliminates the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, while at the same time removes thousands of tires from landfill sites. FieldTurf requires no mowing, fertilizing, reseeding or watering. FieldTurf helps organizations earn the necessary points needed for U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification. FieldTurf's reused rubber content and water use reduction, among other factors, can contribute towards many LEED certification points.