Grass vs turf

After voters passed a $58.8 million East Meadow School District bond in March 2017, the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center, the district's hub, had a natural-grass field installed in the summer of 2018. The district’s current plan, detailed in the bond, is to install a new, $600,000 grass football field at East Meadow High School. Now, however, the district is exploring four different options for a synthetic-turf field at EMHS and an additional one at W.T. Clarke high/middle school. Once trustees decide on an option, it will be presented as an addendum to the bond and put to a public vote.

Option 1: Artificial turf filled with rubber granules made of recycled tires. Would cost an additional $2,524,000.

Option 2: Turf filled with the same granules, but dyed green to reduce heat absorption. Additional cost: $2,582,080.

Option 3: Turf filled with granules made of recycled sneakers. Additional cost: $2,717,600.

Option 4: Turf filled with granules made of cork and coconut pieces, increasing water absorption. Additional cost: $3,579,120.