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Municipal Complex: Administration
 Issues
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Electric panels do not meet current standards
Lighting is deficient in several areas of the
building
Interior finishes have come to an end of their
useful life causing paint to peel and carpet to
fray
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Municipal Complex: Library
 Issues
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Electric system do not meet current standards
HVAC in need of major overhaul. Current
system leaks in many places causing damage
to collection and structure
Finishes are worn and frayed
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Parks & Playgrounds Improvements
 Issues
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Fields use far exceeds the capabilities of the
grass playing surface causing deterioration of
playing surface and subsurface
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Field Condition
Sustain good field conditions
Hours per Year
200 hours or less
Fair to good field conditions, some thinning
turf and localized wear areas
400 to 600 hours
Significant turf loss, field surface damage,
increased potential for athlete injury
Over 800 hours
Tables
Table 1. Expected field condition based on hours of field use per year.
University of Florida Athletic Field Use Capacity
Barrows Field at Carteret Park
916 hours per year
Hurrell Field
800 hours per year
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Parks & Playgrounds Improvements
 Options
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Keep fields “as is”
Reduce activities held on the field
Re-sod fields on an annual / biannual basis
Install synthetic playing surface
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Parks & Playgrounds Improvements
 Synthetic Surface Concerns
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Heat Gain
Increased Injury Rate
Visual Impact
Formation of Bacteria on Playing Surface
Environmental Impact from Synthetic Materials
Product Life
Security, Vandalism and Access
Light pollution
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Synthetic Surface Concerns

Heat Gain
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Synthetic surfaces are hotter than natural grass. It is planned to install
sprinklers at Carteret Park to allow for summer usage of the field on
extremely hot days. “Surface temperature of RIF fields can be reduced
by 33 percent with proper use of irrigation cycling…. The heat load
problem on RIF fields is manageable with irrigation, the problem is that
most fields have been constructed without irrigation.”
If you can't take the heat...
Dr. Dave Minner, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Iowa State University
Increased Injury Rate

Studies have shown that there is no increased injury rate on synthetic
playing surfaces and that the rate of injury is comparable to natural
grass. The type of injuries differ. “For example, the researchers found
there was a greater incidence of surface to skin injuries and muscle
strains and spasm on FieldTurf. However, on the natural grass fields
they documented a great incidence of head concussions and ligament
tears.” American Journal of Sports Medicine, Oct 2004
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Synthetic Surface Concerns
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Environmental Impact from Synthetic Materials
 There is no data to suggest that crumb rubber is toxic.
The type of rubber used in athletic fields is cryogenic
rubber that does not contain metal or dust.
 The use of fertilizers and pesticides will be eliminated
on the synthetic playing surface
Product Life
 Expected life for the playing surface is 10 years. An 8
year guarantee will be specified. All subgrade work
has an expected life of 20 years or more. Much of the
initial cost involved is in the subsurface construction.
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Synthetic Surface Concerns

Formation of Bacteria on Playing Surface

There is no increase in the type or formation of harmful
bacteria on the synthetic fields. Spot solutions are
available if requested. "The microbe population of natural
turfgrass far exceeds anything we've found in the infill
systems. In fact, a number of the infill systems had zero
living microbes in the sample at the time of testing."
Andy McNitt
Associate Professor of Soil Science at Penn State
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Synthetic Surface Concerns
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Visual impact of permanent striping
 Striping does not have to be permanently stitched into
the synthetic material. At Carteret Park, temporary
striping may be utilized.
Security, Vandalism and Access
 Access will remain the same to pedestrians.
Measures will be installed to ensure no motor vehicle
access onto the playing surfaces. The fields will not
be closed. Additional video cameras may be installed
to further enhance security.
Light pollution
 Customized lighting that will minimize light pollution
has been recommended. These lights can be
remotely controlled as well. If installed, a strict curfew
will be enforced.
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Grass vs. Synthetic Surface

Grass
 Cut twice a week
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Striped twice a week
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Fertilized 6 times a year
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Core aerated and over seeded
twice a year
Major top soil and leveling twice
a year
Irrigated playing area once a
day
Fields must be closed for
routine maintenance
Necessitates closure for annual
/ biannual resodding from three
to six months
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Synthetic
 Only surrounding grass areas
to be cut
 Striped every two weeks for
activities that are not
permanently stitched into the
material
 Treatment only for shrubs and
perimeter grass areas, not on
fields
 No core aeration or over
seeding required
 Fields brushed four times a
year
 Irrigate for cooling on “heat”
days only
 Playable all year round
regardless of weather
 Elimination of gas powered
lights at Palmer Field at
Forest Avenue School
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20 Year Life Cycle Analysis
SOD EVERY YEAR
Hurrell Field
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,306,430
$1,529,496
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,637,268
Total Cost per Field
$2,476,424
$3,166,764
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,306,430
$764,748
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,637,268
Total Cost per Field
$2,476,424
$2,402,016
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,306,430
$509,832
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,637,268
Total Cost per Field
$2,476,424
$2,147,100
Installation Cost
Per Field
SOD EVERY TWO YEARS
Hurrell Field
Installation Cost
Per Field
SOD EVERY THREE YEARS
Hurrell Field
Installation Cost
Per Field
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20 Year Life Cycle Analysis
SOD EVERY YEAR
Carteret
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,565,630
$1,699,440
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,774,555
Total Cost per Field
$2,735,624
$3,473,995
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,565,630
$849,720
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,774,555
Total Cost per Field
$2,735,624
$2,624,275
Synthetic Turf
Natural Grass
$2,565,630
$566,480
Annual maintenance
$169,994
$1,774,555
Total Cost per Field
$2,735,624
$2,341,035
Installation Cost
Per Field
SOD EVERY TWO YEARS
Carteret
Installation Cost
Per Field
SOD EVERY THREE YEARS
Carteret
Installation Cost
Per Field
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Please Remember to Vote
The Special Election Day for the Capital Bonds
Referendum is Tuesday, February 6, 2007.
Polling Hours are from 6:00a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
If you are a registered voter and are uncertain about
where to vote check your sample ballot or call the
Clerk's office (973-748-8400, ext.220). Polling place
information and current voters registration lists are
also available in Room 102 of the Municipal Building.
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Absentee Ballots
As an Essex County resident you may apply for an
absentee ballot if you are a qualified and registered
voter by written application to the County Clerk's
Office. The deadline for such requests are seven (7)
days prior to any and all elections (Primary, General,
School, Special, etc.). Any absentee voter who fails
to apply by the deadline may apply in person to the
County Clerk's office, or by authorized messenger, on
any day up to 3:00 P.M. the day before an election.
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Thank you!
For more information please visit our website at
www.glenridgenj.org
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