Frequently Asked Questions
Nursery Field is a complex issue. There are a lot of questions about this project that have been brought to our attention through letters in local publications, direct conversations and through comments at City Council meetings.
The below is a summary of several of the common questions and answers. We encourage all interested parties to review the available resources published on the City of Rye's Nursery Field Improvement Project Page for additional information.
Q: Why doesn't the City conduct a complete field inventory to find a better site?
A: The City of Rye Recreation Dept. already did that. They chose Nursery Field. It’s the field that’s shut down most often. For more information regarding the evaluation process of all fields, please see our Open Letter published in November 2023.
Q: Won't artificial turf worsen the flooding in the area?
A: Artificial turf fields drain better than natural fields; they are designed to operate as storm management systems. If the flooding in the surrounding neighborhood came from field runoff, artificial turf could actually make things better. However, the neighborhood floods from rising waters of an aquifer and the Blind Brook, so artificial turf would have no net effect on flooding.
Q: Why can't the proposed money be invested to improve the natural grass field and drainage?
A: Natural grass is usable about 15 hours per week and must "rest" during the summer and winter months and for days immediately following significant rainfall. User groups through the Rye Recreation Department need 35+ hours a week from Nursery Feld. The consultants hired by the City of Rye have stated that investing in improving the grass field would be a waste of money that will not yield additional play time on the field. Additionally, grass costs taxpayers a lot more in maintenance fees than artificial turf. Grass also requires fertilizer, which contaminates the wetland area and Blind Brook; artificial turf requires no chemical applications.
Q: How can the city consider artificial turf in a historic neighborhood?
A: The Knapp House is a historic landmark, but the rest of the neighborhood is a mix of old and new houses, like most of Rye. Moreover, the Nursery Field proposal requires trimming invasive vines and planting new trees, so it will should improve the overall aesthetic (in addition to the drainage). Click here to see the renderings of the proposed project.
Q: Won't this project cost taxpayers a lot of money?
A: It will actually save taxpayers a lot of money. The cost of the project and the replacement cost for the field (estimated 10-12 useful life) will be paid for by donors just as many projects in Rye are funded. The annual cost to maintain a turf field will be less than the grass field and those savings plus additional revenue generated by Rye Rec from increased available hours can be used to maintain the field in perpetuity.
Q: The Nursery Field property is owned by the City of Rye so shouldn't it be available for all residents, not just kids who want to play sports?
A: Nursery Field is designated as a multi-use sports field however it currently is closed for 60% of the year. Rye has numerous public spaces for walking, reading, picnicking, bird watching and dog walking, etc. The City of Rye does not currently own a single year round outdoor field space for our community. The turf field at Rye High School is controlled by the Rye City School District and the turf fields at Rye Country Day School are private property controlled by RCDS.
Q: Hundreds of residents oppose the project so why is it still being considered?
A: The City Council has a responsibility to represent all of Rye and make the decisions based on data and facts. The primary opponents have generally cited environmental, flooding, safety or neighborhood (aka "Not In My Backyard") reasons for their opposition. The environmental, flooding and safety issues have been thoroughly evaluated and refuted by City staff, paid consultants and the City of Rye Planning & Recreation Commissions. Outside of that, our City Council should not base decisions on neighborhood input over community need. Opponents of this project have collected unverified petition signatures from places as far away as Romania and Greece. Let The Kids Play has over 500 verified City of Rye residents supporting this project.