FIGHT FOR THE FIELDS.COM
A Community Coming Together to Inform on the Impacts of Swarthmore College's Cunningham Field Redevelopment Project
In a letter to Swarthmore Borough dated March 9, 2026, Swarthmore College has withdrawn its text amendment proposal for Cunningham Field.
The College says it hopes to work with the Borough and residents in the future to come up with a new recreational plan for the field that will serve College students, staff, and residents of the Borough.
Planning Commission Meeting
ATTEND THE MEETING!
Make Your Voice Heard - Learn of the Impacts Before It's Too Late!
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NO POISON PLASTIC PARTICLE PARK IN SWARTHMORE
To know what toxic combination of plastic micro and nano particles Swarthmore College is proposing to let loose on our school children in the SRS playground, we need all details on the chemical content of the four proposed plastic turf products and how these chemicals interact in the body.
In speaking with officials in the Delaware County Planning Department and Delaware County Conservation District, they said to get a really close look at each kind of turf and how much water impacts the runoff.
Officials universally confirmed they have never reviewed a proposal for this vast acreage with four different types of plastic turf proposed right next to an elementary school and across from homes.
But the College has not shared details on the plastic turf products they plan to use.
Residents need complete answers now.
- Is the college falsely insisting the four acres of plastic turf are "not impervious" so they can put more turf at this site? Officials all insisted they routinely view turf as impervious surface (like driveway) in all the projects before them. What is the College hiding?
- We were told to review the specifics on the exact brand and model of turf proposed for each field and for the walkway between the fields, look at turf samples to verify chemical content and manufacturer health warnings especially for exposure to children.
- Why is turf proposed for the walkways when sharper rugby and soccer cleats made for play on grass fields will immediately puncture and tear up the turf walkways?
- The biggest surprise is the excessive water usage for the "Olympic Style" Field Hockey field Swarthmore coaches have talked about but provided few details. "Watered turf" is preferred for top level play to reduce friction on the ball. This is a major concern because with built-in water irrigation, watered turf is described by turf supplier GreenFields to require roughly 1,585 gallons for each and every match, which is equivalent to drinking water for a family of three for six and a half years for only one game!
- Agency officials explained this would be water volume usually in industrial settings. They twice said we should consult Aqua PA before any zoning vote to see if this huge volume would trigger an increase in water rates for the entire Borough.
Refusal by Swarthmore College to provide vital details, including summer usage of the fields when this is a for-profit operation, is grounds for an emphatic NO vote on all zoning issues. How is it ethical or sustainable to expend so much clean water for sport?
Maintaining living grass on our seven acre field which produces oxygen for roughly 448 people per day is our healthiest future.
The College is aiming to buy athletic prestige by building state-of-the-art plastic turf fields.
They should focus on rebuilding their academic prestige and stop destroying their sustainability brand.
To Raise Awareness and Make Our Voice Heard Please Send Emails to Contacts Below.
Jill Gaieski
Swarthmore Borough Council President
Virginia Thompson
Swarthmore Borough Council Member
Cindy MacLeod
Swarthmore Borough Council Member
PLASTICS IN OUR WATER?
THEY WATER TURF?
YES! THEY DO!
READ THIS ARTICLE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT IT.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/sports/olympics/why-olympic-field-hockey-pitch-is-wet
BEWARE OF THESE IMPACTS!
The most intensive use of the fields will be utilized during the once quiet Summer months of June, July, and August.
The fields will be rented and utilized sometimes in the full capacity of all 4 fields, something that has never been done in the entire history of Cunningham Field.
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS?
SAFETY (CLICK +)
TRAFFIC (CLICK +)
PARKING (CLICK +)
HEALTH (CLICK +)
PROPERTY VALUES (CLICK +)
NOISE & LIGHT POLLUTION (CLICK +)
IRREVERSIBLE IMPACTS (CLICK +)
WE HAVE A CHOICE!
FRESH OXYGEN TO BREATHE
OR PLASTICS IN OUR WATER?
IT IS NOT A MYSTERY THAT GRASS AND TREES AND PLANTS PRODUCE OXYGEN.
OXYGEN IS LIFE!
https://biologyinsights.com/does-grass-give-oxygen-how-it-makes-the-air-we-breathe/
WHAT WILL WE DO TOGETHER?
There are many negative impacts we will feel in the future and there will be no turning back once this is in motion. Show up! Make your voice heard.
