Mead Park baseball field on July 6, 2021. Credit: Michael Dinan
Eight months after parks officials voted in support of the move as part of a larger recommendation, the town on Tuesday added a section to the municipal website disclosing its use of pesticides on several athletic fields.
Though state law prohibits the use of pesticides on school grounds through grade 8, New Canaan uses the chemicals in treating athletic grounds at Waveny, Conner Field and baseball fields at Mead Park.
Selectman Kathleen Corbet last summer questioned why pesticides are still applied to some public fields used by young kids, and in September developed a set of recommendations for the town. Her findings included that “not very many people know about the use of pesticides in our Town,” and she said in her report that “[a]t a minimum, unless a pesticide free policy is adopted for all athletic fields, public disclosure about the use of pesticides on the natural grass athletic fields is recommended.
Selectmen weigh in on pesticides for New Canaan fields
Grace Duffield
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New Canaan s Alex Robey (10) controls the ball as Brien McMahon s Athila Dasilva (4) defends during a boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan during a previous fall season. Addressing fears that students could be injured on non pesticide treated fields, the New Canaan Parks Superintendent John Howe will seek more money for fields in the future.Amy Mortensen / Hearst Connecticut Media
What’s more dangerous: the effects of pesticides, or the risk of concussions on hard playing surfaces?
A study into the use of chemicals on local playing fields ended up overlapping an ongoing look into long-term effects from head injuries when it reached the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Dec. 15.
New Canaan to discuss pesticides on fields
Grace Duffield
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New Canaan s Braeden Dial unloads on a shot during an FCIAC girls soccer game between New Canaan and Darien at Connor Field in New Canaan, Conn. The rivals played to a scoreless draw.Anthony E. Parelli / Hearst Connecticut Media
NEW CANAAN The Board of Selectmen will hear a report from the Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday that argues that pesticide-free fields may be more dangerous than ones where pesticides are used.
Athletes playing on pesticide-free fields are more likely to suffer injuries due to the hardness of the surface, according to the “Pesticide Usage on Athletic Fields,” report.