Memorial Field, one of 3 artifical turf fields in Natick
After months of debate over how to best use turf fields in Natick, the town’s study group is making progress researching the pros and cons of artificial turf.
The town established the Natural and Synthetic Turf Field Study Group in January to study environmental, financial and children’s health factors in turf field installation and management.
The study aims to collect data to help the town plan for the future of sports fields across Natick.
“Our goal as a study group is not to recommend one thing or another, but it’s to ensure that everyone has the information they need to make an informed decision,” said Julie McDonough, who is part of the group and a former Natick School Committee member.
Simultaneously with the January 2026 establishment of the study group, the Select Board, Superintendent and Town Administrator forwarded a separate initiative to analyze the design feasibility of the “disrepaired” JV field at Natick High School.
“The grass isn’t growing — it’s compacted, so it’s hard, and so that makes it a little bit unsafe,” McDonough said.
The town approved the field design funding for the JV field during the 2024 spring meeting. However, later that year, a group of Natick Town Meeting members called for a 3-year moratorium on the installation of new synthetic turf fields due to concerns over the effects of turf.
The moratorium presentation highlighted toxicity risks to children from turf as well as climate and local environmental risks.
“I just think there are too many reasons not to do it,” said Rick Devereux, one of the residents who proposed the moratorium. “It’s our kids.”
The moratorium “would allow time to address uncertainties,” according to the presentation.
The issue failed at the town meeting.
A year passed, and the same moratorium group issued an advisory moratorium on turf fields. This time it passed.
In response, Select Board and study group member Bruce Evans suggested forming the Natural and Synthetic Turf Field Study Group.
The town passed two initiatives. One to analyze JV field design possibilities, and the other to study the effects of synthetic turf.
The study group held its first meeting Feb. 2.
Going forward, the study group will hear from experts from different organizations, such as Parks and Recreation and the Department of Public Works, to gain a balanced perspective for their report.
Other nearby towns have also undergone similar studies, including Wayland and Arlington.
Devereux commended Wayland’s approach to turf fields, particularly agreeing with their ethical concerns.
“The idea of replacing grass in a school with plastic when the school is trying to, you know, teach and model more sustainable behavior for their students, was an enormous moral gap,” Devereux said.
However, Natick High School Lacrosse Coach Nathan Kittler said he believes turf fields provide more playing hours, which could solve field overusage.
Grass fields must have a certain amount of “rest hours” to preserve grass quality. With the designated rest hours and the number of fields available in Natick, there are not enough playing hours for all the sports teams.
It’s too much for the fields to handle.
“At the beginning of the season, after they let [the grass] rest all summer long, and don’t let everybody on it’s nice,” Kittler said. “But once the season starts up, it’s destroyed within weeks.”
Kittler said even the players prefer the turf over grass. In the end, the high school and youth teams are most affected by the change.
After the study group submits its report, the town will have to weigh the potential health and environmental concerns against the playability for the youth sports teams.
McDonough said she hopes that the group will have an interim report by spring and a full report for the Fall Annual Town Meeting. The report will guide any future decisions about local field design, potentially including the JV field.
The study group has four more meetings planned for March 16, March 23, April 6 and April 13.
“Natick will decide,” said Evans. “It’s ultimately a town decision that says, you know, [what] do we want?”
This story was produced in partnership with the Boston University Department of Journalism.
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