Local Environmental Group Joins Fight Against Turf Fields in Lawsuit Against Cornell
Zero Waste Ithaca, an environmental activist group based out of Ithaca, New York, has filed suit to prevent Cornell University from constructing a new turf athletic field in its new Meinig Fieldhouse.[1] The group’s mission is to “promote Zero Waste policies, culture, and environmental justice” in the Ithaca community.[2] One of its four main projects is preventing the construction of new artificial turf fields.[3] Cornell’s Meinig Fieldhouse project, announced in October of 2023, includes constructing a 107,520 gsf multi-purpose field for use by varsity athletics, campus recreation, and intramural sports.[4]
The environmental objection to artificial turf fields comes alongside longtime objections by National Football League (NFL) players.[5] The players have lodged complaints regarding the safety concerns that come with the use of artificial turf over grass fields.[6] 92% of NFL players prefer grass fields over turf fields, and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has repeatedly called for the end of turf fields in the stadiums.[7] The primary concern is the higher rate of noncontact injuries on turf fields, which specifically lead to a lot of lower-extremity injuries.[8] These types of injuries lead to long recovery periods and less time on the field.[9] With turf fields absorbing less force than grass, the impact on the joints is higher, leading to more injuries, stiffness, and soreness.[10]
Meanwhile, concerns over the environmental impact of turf fields are arising.[11] Artificial turf contains harmful chemicals, such as lead and microplastics.[12] The fields place athletes and children at the highest risk, as they can inhale or even absorb through the skin microplastic particles, turf dust, or other chemicals.[13] Further, the tiny microplastics can be carried by the wind, which can contaminate the air and water supply.[14] There is a sense of irony to this fact, as one of the proposed benefits of turf fields is the lack of required maintenance, including less water use.[15] In the end, artificial turf only lasts about eight to ten years, leading to the disposal of large amounts of plastic into landfills.[16]
Zero Waste Ithaca’s lawsuit, developed by the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, argues that Cornell University and the City of Ithaca violated the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.[17] Specifically, the suit alleges that the City Planning Board failed to take a hard look at the environmental impact and made a negative declaration without sufficient evidence.[18] The group’s concerns about turf fields revolve around microplastic pollution, citing studies showing microplastics are breaking the blood-brain barrier.[19] The group is also pointing to the broader impact of this suit, with a spokesperson for the group arguing that “allowing a reputable Ivy League university to endorse synthetic turf over natural grass sets a dangerous precedent.”[20]
Cornell University, naturally, intends to carry on with the turf field.[21] On their website, Cornell has included a justification for the use of turf.[22] Specifically, Cornell points to the high usage the field will have, saying that a synthetic field can be used for seventeen hours a day as opposed to five hours on a grass field.[23] In response to Zero Waste Ithaca’s complaint, Cornell has attacked the group’s standing to sue and argued that the environmental review was thorough.[24] The response points to the field being PFAS-free, a claim that Zero Waste Ithaca claims lacked support in the environmental review.[25] PFAS is known as a “forever chemical” due to the long time it takes to decompose and is linked to harmful health effects.[26] However, Cornell argues that their field is compliant with New York law regarding turf containing PFAS even though the law is not yet in effect.[27] Cornell’s response asks the court to dismiss the case with prejudice.[28]
The City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board conducted a review of the project for eight months before approval, but that approval is up in the air after this lawsuit.[29] The case has not been resolved and likely won’t be for a while. This case will pit a law school clinic against the attorneys for Cornell University in what is sure to be a massive case for the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, which is run out of Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law.[30] This case could broadly impact the future of synthetic turf fields, so environmental groups are likely to be watching closely.[31] As for the NFL players, 50% of stadiums still contain turf grass, so the NFLPA still has its work cut out.[32]
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