EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) — New artificial turf was approved for the fields at Camp Jordan in East Ridge, but not without controversy.
The $3 million project was approved by the East Ridge City Council.
It’ll replace the soccer and four baseball slash softball fields at the complex with the turf.
Officials say the artificial turf should mitigate weather delays from rain.
However, there was one vote against the project by Councilman Jacky Cagle.
He raised concerns about the content of that turf, especially concerned about the presence of lead in it.
Cagle said, “So they’re going to be using recycled rubber tires, which are full of lead which is going to be going into our pond. The lead is going to kill our fish. The pond has a leak there, it’ll go into the Chickamauga Creek, so I see a big problem with that because our filters won’t catch it all.”
Engineer for ASA Construction, Jeff Sikes, told Cagle, “I’m not aware of the lead content of the rubber, I know nothing about that.”
Cagle responded, “All I know is what I read and I read a lot.”
The turf will be installed following the conclusion of this year’s sports season.
