Synthetic Turf Council Donates New Playing Field to Stuart-Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – While efforts ranging from Let’s Move to the CDC’s new
Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project urge youth to play outside to promote
fitness, often kids don’t have a place to go.
That is changing today for Stuart-Hobson
Middle School in Washington, D.C.,
the recipient of a new synthetic playing field from the Synthetic
Turf Council, a non-profit trade association. Representing
the first industry-wide collaboration of its kind, the initiative showcases how
private industry can make a difference in the drive for increased childhood
fitness.
"We are committed
to community wellness and environmental responsibility through the use of
synthetic turf,” noted Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. "Our
members enthusiastically came together to build a field that increases opportunities for Stuart-Hobson
students to be active and play outside.”
Despite its
academic excellence, Stuart-Hobson
Middle School had an
asphalt playground that limited the ability of students to play team sports and
increase their fitness levels. Unveiled
during a "ribbon-breaking” ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on October 11, the new 13,200
sq ft, beautiful, safe, grass-like synthetic turf playing surface can be used
by students year-round, even in the rain.
"Although
Stuart-Hobson has an incredible athletic program, we’ve lacked outside practice
fields for our players,” said Principal Dawn Clemens. "This new synthetic turf
field will help all of our students increase their physical activity levels.”
In reporting that about 17% of children and adolescents
are obese, the Centers
for Disease Control notes that the lack of safe, appealing places for kids
to play or be active is a major problem in many communities. A rapidly growing
solution to this problem is synthetic turf, installed by over 6,000 schools and
community parks in the U.S.
and Canada
in places where it is difficult or impossible to grow natural grass.
Eco-friendly benefits include the conservation of more than six billion gallons
of water annually and elimination of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
Creating more outdoor play spaces and athletic fields enhances the well-being
of young and old Americans alike.
About the Synthetic Turf
Council
Based
in Atlanta, the
Synthetic Turf Council was founded
in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the
selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf,
municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The
organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research
on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership
includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers,
manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers
and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
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