It’s Not Just Field Overuse - It’s Water Overuse

To the editor: Whether we’re landscaping or building homes, we work on Nantucket’s landscapes every day. We see the consequences of drought and overuse firsthand. Limited water, heavy field use, and rising maintenance demands take a toll on our playing surfaces — and on the aquifer that sustains us all. While we respect the tradition of natural grass, the evidence is clear: synthetic turf is the more sustainable, responsible, and cost-effective choice for Nantucket High School.

Water is Nantucket’s most limited resource. Every gallon used to keep grass green during a drought is a gallon drawn from our shared source. Maintaining playable grass fields consumes up to 1.5 million gallons of water per field each year, even as residents and businesses are urged to conserve. During drought restrictions, homeowners are asked to cut back on irrigation, while athletic fields must be heavily watered just to remain usable. Synthetic turf removes that strain, preserving our water supply while providing reliable, safe playing surfaces year-round.

Natural grass can’t keep up with demand. Our fields host practices, games, camps, and community events nearly year-round — far beyond what grass can handle. A healthy field supports roughly 400–800 hours of play annually, yet Nantucket’s fields see well over 1,000. Under that pressure, even the best-maintained grass becomes compacted, bare, and unsafe. Synthetic turf can handle up to 3,000 hours of play while maintaining a consistent, safe surface.

As landscapers and builders, we’re happy to champion natural grass -  it’s our craft and our passion. But we also see the maintenance crews struggling to keep the many grass fields we have alive, the strain on our shared water source, and the risks from fertilizers and chemicals. Most importantly, we care about the safety of the kids who play on these surfaces. Those realities demand that we look beyond preference and focus on what’s best for the island community as a whole.

We’re not just landscapers — we’re coaches, players, and referees, too. From standing on the sidelines to being out on the field, we’ve experienced firsthand how synthetic turf performs. It wears better, drains better, and stays safer and more playable after rain or heavy use. Most importantly, it lets kids get outside and play more often — which is the goal, isn’t it? More play, less downtime, and safer, more reliable fields for everyone.

Turf technology has evolved. Modern systems minimize or eliminate PFAS and use safer, recyclable materials. The industry is taking responsibility — a level of accountability not found in every building material.

Our love for Nantucket means adapting to its realities. With one aquifer, unpredictable rainfall, and growing recreational needs, we must make choices that protect our future. Synthetic turf offers a resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible solution for Nantucket’s athletic fields.

Signed,

Cameron Murphy
Ben Champoux
Wilmer Ortiz
Lindsay Congleton