WINTER PARK, Fla. — Winter Park leaders said renovation of a field will include the controversial crumb rubber.
The city began considering the move last month for Showalter Field.
Some city leaders acknowledged there were concerns picking the turf with crumb rubber, but said in the end, other options were too expensive or they couldn’t handle strong rainstorms.
City leaders also said extra money will be spent to make sure athletes and children aren’t exposed to crumb rubber.
Leaders will use two layers of CoolPlay turf for the field, which consists of a layer of cork and plastic that will go on top of the crumb rubber to keep the field from getting too hot.
A city spokesperson said in an email that commissioners approved CoolPlay turf with an additional layer.
"Because there were a few people that were questioning the safety of something like that, we said, ‘Let’s make sure our students are safe,’" said Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel.
Crumb rubber is still being investigated by three federal agencies after concerns it could make children sick, but there’s still no official evidence tying crumb rubber to illnesses.
The extra layer pushed the cost from $784,000 to a little less than $823,000.
A coach in Seminole County showed Channel 9 on a heat gun how crumb rubber turf can reach 170 degrees, making it too hot to play on.
The company behind CoolPlay states on its website that the artificial turf stays 35 degrees cooler than the turf made of recycled tires.
Winter Park commissioners said the new turf will be here by the fall.
Taxpayers are spending $122,000 on the project because three other groups are helping foot the bill.
Cox Media Group
