Changes

The Oak Park Park District website reports the results of the Leisure Vision/ETC Institute Fall 2010 Community Survey commissioned by the Park District of Oak Park.  Released in February 2011, the goal was to establish priorities for services and programs.  It showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

The Oak Park Park District website reports the results of the Leisure Vision/ETC Institute Fall 2010 Community Survey commissioned by the Park District of Oak Park.  Released in February 2011, the goal was to establish priorities for services and programs.  It showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

====Democratic Citizen Input Lacking====

===Democratic Citizen Input Lacking===

When artificial turf was proposed for Lindberg Park, residents were notified by flyers and the resulting uproar led  to cancellation  of the plans.

When artificial turf was proposed for Lindberg Park, residents were notified by flyers and the resulting uproar led  to cancellation  of the plans.

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 2===

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 2===

In the oceans, the artificial turf material continues to devastate the world ecosystems.  As the plastic flotsam photo-degrades into smaller and smaller pieces, it concentrates in the upper water column. As it disintegrates, the plastic ultimately becomes small enough to be ingested by plankton and other small aquatic organisms that reside near the ocean's surface. In this way, plastic may become concentrated in neuston and enters the human food chain in the oceans.

In the oceans, the artificial turf material continues to devastate the world ecosystems.  As the plastic flotsam photo-degrades into smaller and smaller pieces, it concentrates in the upper water column. As it disintegrates, the plastic ultimately becomes small enough to be ingested by plankton and other small aquatic organisms that reside near the ocean's surface. In this way, plastic may become concentrated in neuston and enters the human food chain in the oceans.

Some plastics decompose within a year of entering the water, leaching potentially toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A, PCBs, and derivatives of polystyrene, a major component of artificial turf.  Some of these long-lasting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals including turtles and their young.  As one example, of the 1.5 million albatrosses that inhabit Midway Island, nearly all are found to have plastic in their digestive system.  Of the approximately one-third of the chicks that die, many of them are due to being fed plastic from their parents (see photo above).

 

Some plastics decompose within a year of entering the water, leaching potentially toxic chemicals such as bisphenol A, PCBs, and derivatives of polystyrene, a major component of artificial turf.  Some of these long-lasting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals including turtles and their young.  As one example, of the 1.5 million albatrosses that inhabit Midway Island, nearly all are found to have plastic in their digestive system.  Of the approximately one-third of the chicks that die, many of them are due to being fed plastic from their parents.

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 3===

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 3===

Besides the particles' danger to wildlife, on the microscopic level the floating debris can absorb organic pollutants from seawater, including PCBs, DDT, and PAHs.  Aside from toxic effects, when ingested, some of these are mistaken by the endocrine system as estradiol, causing hormone disruption in the affected animal. These toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then eaten by larger fish.  Many of these fish enter the human food chain, resulting in their ingestion of toxic chemicals.   

Besides the particles' danger to wildlife, on the microscopic level the floating debris can absorb organic pollutants from seawater, including PCBs, DDT, and PAHs.  Aside from toxic effects, when ingested, some of these are mistaken by the endocrine system as estradiol, causing hormone disruption in the affected animal. These toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then eaten by larger fish.  Many of these fish enter the human food chain, resulting in their ingestion of toxic chemicals.   

Marine plastics also facilitate the spread of invasive species that attach to floating plastic in one region and drift long distances to colonize other ecosystems.

Marine plastics also facilitate the spread of invasive species that attach to floating plastic in one region and drift long distances to colonize other ecosystems.

On the macroscopic level, as in the local river systems, the physical size of the plastic kills birds and turtles as the animals' digestion can not break down the plastic inside their stomachs.  To exacerbate this effect, the macroscopic plastic makes it much more difficult for animals to see and detect their normal sources of food.

 

Oceanographic and biological research has shown that this plastic marine debris affects at least 267 species worldwide.

On the macroscopic level, as in the local river systems, the physical size of the plastic kills birds and turtles as the animals' digestion can not break down the plastic inside their stomachs.  To exacerbate this effect, the macroscopic plastic makes it much more difficult for animals to see and detect their normal sources of food.

 

Oceanographic and biological research has shown that this plastic marine debris affects at least 267 species worldwide.

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 4===

===Environment: Birds, Fish, & Oceans, Part 4===

We repeat:  The Park District’s own survey released in 2011 showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

We repeat:  The Park District’s own survey released in 2011 showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

==Categories==

==Categories==