Children played at Russell when Ahern field closed due to rain on May 30. Credit: Jason Targoff
Missing from articles, letters and other discussion about Ahern Field is the value of play.
Children do not become healthier because adults preserve a field in theory. Kids become healthier when they use the field. The Centers for Disease Control recommends children and adolescents ages 6-17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Youth sports participation is associated with mental health benefits, increased cognitive performance and better long-term health outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics, UNICEF and Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child all recognize organized sports as a source of physical, social, emotional, and mental-health benefits for children and adolescents.
And synthetic fields simply provide more opportunities for use. A “well-maintained” grass field should not be used during heavy precipitation. Cambridge has roughly 40 days per year with half an inch of rain or more. The field also should not be used the day after heavy rain, or during drought conditions. Cambridge had four months of Level 2 drought restrictions in 2025 and as of May 22, 2026, is currently in a Level 3 restriction. Further, to maintain even fair quality, a grass field needs a full year of rest every four to five years.
Sennott Park offers a cautionary example. After a $250,000 renovation, including resodding, and after 18 full months of rest, the field looked great. But just 24 months later, after use in both wet and overly dry conditions, the wear was obvious.
Sennott Park, Spring 2024 – 6 months after re-sodding, $250,000 budget (including play areas) and 18 months of rest. Credit: John DelanceySennott Park, two years after re-sodding. Credit: Athens Fitzcheung
A synthetic turf field provides four to five times as many hours of play per week and is useable 12 months per year compared to eight to 10 months for a New England grass field. Synthetic turf is dependable, durable safe and versatile —play-worthy not only for organized youth athletics, like baseball, flag football, lacrosse, softball and soccer, but also for free play: frisbee, tag, dodgeball, pickup games and so much more.
The Ahern Revitalization Project takes advantage of every square foot. It includes a wide green path around the field’s circumference, a resurfaced basketball court, a resurfaced street-hockey rink, upgraded and redesigned playgrounds, and new meetup and picnic areas.
Are there trade-offs? Of course. The two primary concerns are heat and microplastic shedding. But many of the other environmental concerns are substantially reduced by using organic infill instead of crumb rubber, along with Cambridge’s commitment to high-quality materials that are independently certified for environmental impact and product recyclability. Compiled reviews of recent injury studies have shown little to no difference in injury rates between third-generation synthetic turf fields and pristine natural grass fields. Third- and fourth-generation synthetic fields are, however, significantly safer than poor-quality grass fields.
Ahern field closed due to rain on May 30. Credit: Andrew Farrar
Regarding heat, a modern surface combined with organic infill can reduce surface temperatures by 30–50° Fahrenheit compared with older synthetic turf systems. It will still be warmer than natural grass. However, dirt fields are also roughly 10–15 degrees warmer than grass fields. The optimal use period for Ahern will be Fall (September) through Spring (June), avoiding the two hottest months of the year. Even during the summer, the field will remain readily playable most days. September through June also includes the wettest months, when a grass field would often need to be shut down. Closing a field puts Cambridge in the untenable position of locking gates and policing children and adults to keep them from playing.
Regarding microplastic shedding, approximately two-thirds of the concern comes from crumb rubber infill, which has been eliminated from the proposed Ahern Revitalization Project. That does not eliminate the concern, but it reduces it substantially.
Heat and microplastic shedding should be considered seriously. But they must be weighed in context against hundreds of thousands of additional child-hours of play on a safe, durable, dependable surface — one that provides equity in access to top-quality facilities across Cambridge, not just for those who can transport themselves to North Cambridge’s Russell Field or West Cambridge’s Danehy Park.
This is an extraordinary opportunity. The Ahern Revitalization Project can create a true community asset: a gem of a complex that provides East Cambridge in particular and Cambridge as a whole with an outstanding public resource.
Farrar is director of Cambridge Youth Soccer Kickstart, an East Cambridge-based program, and lives in Cambridgeport. Castillo is on the board of Cambridge Youth Soccer and lives in East Cambridge.
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Let them play: Ahern is strategic for our children and public health
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Missing from articles, letters and other discussion about Ahern Field is the value of play.
Children do not become healthier because adults preserve a field in theory. Kids become healthier when they use the field. The Centers for Disease Control recommends children and adolescents ages 6-17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Youth sports participation is associated with mental health benefits, increased cognitive performance and better long-term health outcomes. The American Academy of Pediatrics, UNICEF and Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child all recognize organized sports as a source of physical, social, emotional, and mental-health benefits for children and adolescents.
And synthetic fields simply provide more opportunities for use. A “well-maintained” grass field should not be used during heavy precipitation. Cambridge has roughly 40 days per year with half an inch of rain or more. The field also should not be used the day after heavy rain, or during drought conditions. Cambridge had four months of Level 2 drought restrictions in 2025 and as of May 22, 2026, is currently in a Level 3 restriction. Further, to maintain even fair quality, a grass field needs a full year of rest every four to five years.
Sennott Park offers a cautionary example. After a $250,000 renovation, including resodding, and after 18 full months of rest, the field looked great. But just 24 months later, after use in both wet and overly dry conditions, the wear was obvious.
A synthetic turf field provides four to five times as many hours of play per week and is useable 12 months per year compared to eight to 10 months for a New England grass field. Synthetic turf is dependable, durable safe and versatile —play-worthy not only for organized youth athletics, like baseball, flag football, lacrosse, softball and soccer, but also for free play: frisbee, tag, dodgeball, pickup games and so much more.
The Ahern Revitalization Project takes advantage of every square foot. It includes a wide green path around the field’s circumference, a resurfaced basketball court, a resurfaced street-hockey rink, upgraded and redesigned playgrounds, and new meetup and picnic areas.
Are there trade-offs? Of course. The two primary concerns are heat and microplastic shedding. But many of the other environmental concerns are substantially reduced by using organic infill instead of crumb rubber, along with Cambridge’s commitment to high-quality materials that are independently certified for environmental impact and product recyclability. Compiled reviews of recent injury studies have shown little to no difference in injury rates between third-generation synthetic turf fields and pristine natural grass fields. Third- and fourth-generation synthetic fields are, however, significantly safer than poor-quality grass fields.
Regarding heat, a modern surface combined with organic infill can reduce surface temperatures by 30–50° Fahrenheit compared with older synthetic turf systems. It will still be warmer than natural grass. However, dirt fields are also roughly 10–15 degrees warmer than grass fields. The optimal use period for Ahern will be Fall (September) through Spring (June), avoiding the two hottest months of the year. Even during the summer, the field will remain readily playable most days. September through June also includes the wettest months, when a grass field would often need to be shut down. Closing a field puts Cambridge in the untenable position of locking gates and policing children and adults to keep them from playing.
Regarding microplastic shedding, approximately two-thirds of the concern comes from crumb rubber infill, which has been eliminated from the proposed Ahern Revitalization Project. That does not eliminate the concern, but it reduces it substantially.
Heat and microplastic shedding should be considered seriously. But they must be weighed in context against hundreds of thousands of additional child-hours of play on a safe, durable, dependable surface — one that provides equity in access to top-quality facilities across Cambridge, not just for those who can transport themselves to North Cambridge’s Russell Field or West Cambridge’s Danehy Park.
This is an extraordinary opportunity. The Ahern Revitalization Project can create a true community asset: a gem of a complex that provides East Cambridge in particular and Cambridge as a whole with an outstanding public resource.
Farrar is director of Cambridge Youth Soccer Kickstart, an East Cambridge-based program, and lives in Cambridgeport. Castillo is on the board of Cambridge Youth Soccer and lives in East Cambridge.
Like this:
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.