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Home My WebLink AboutGFR comments for 11.19.24 continuedAndrew Smith <as3935@cornell.edu> Tuesday,November 19,2024 4:32 AM Town Of Ithaca Planning Cornell Field Hockey Project fr*WARNING**This emaiL comes from an outside source.PLease verify the from address,any URL Links,and/or attachments.Any questions pLease contact the IT department Dear Planning Board, I am writing as the Head Coach of the Field Hockey team at Cornell to ask for your support in building a new facility at Game Farm Road.It is not our choice to leave central campus,it is a choice that has been forced on us by the building on the new Menig Field House.We have a wonderful artificial turf in the middle of campus currently that has served us well over the last 16 years.However,it is time for replacement so after careful input it has been decided that the logical place for a new Field Hockey Facility is Game Farm Road.Cornell has had a Field Hockey team for 50 years.The only way for Field Hockey to continue at Cornell is to play on a Water-Based Non-Infill Artificial Surface.This is the standard for Field Hockey all over the world.If we were forced to play on any other surface the program would not be a viable Division 1 program. The facility at Game Farm Road could be world class.Look at the Baseball facility that was constructed over at Ellis Hollow.Imagine this level of facility for a team of female student- athletes.This would be a first for Cornell as a standalone facility of this level that supports a n exclusively Female Sport and a massive step in terms of gender equity. The facility at Game Farm Road would provide opportunities for hundreds if not thousands of student-athletes over the next decades.The adage of “If you build it,they will come”has never been so correct here.The program has been on the precipice of massive success (Top 15 Ranking,2’place finishes in the Ivy League).With the construction of this new facility the opportunities are endless for the Field Hockey Program. Not only will the facility impact our student-athletes but will also impact the general student population with the club team and the cricket team.My vision of this facility would be for it to benefit the local community as well—the formation of a local club team,perhaps community events together with our annual summer camps that bring people to Ithaca from all,over the world to see the beauty of campus and the surrounding areas. The building of this complete facility sends a massive message to the young women of Cornell.It says,“We Care,We Value,We See You and above all.else We Support 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: (I/I/iL PO You”.Cornell have put an amazing construction program together and worked tirelessly to find creative ways to get this project done.We cannot do it without your input and approval.Please approve this project at your earliest convenience and play your part in making our dreams become a reality. Thank you for taking the time to read this note,please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide further information. Andy Smith AndySmith I Head Field Hockey Coach Cornell University I 208 Bartels HaIl,554 Campus Road,Ithaca,NY 14853 C:(510)384-8529 I 2 Emmy Homer <emmyhornerl @gmail.com> Monday,November 18,2024 8:52 PM Town Of Ithaca Planning A Letter of Support for Cornell Field Hockey Facility (Fi R fr*WARNING**This emaiL comes from an outside source.PLease verify the from address,any URL Links,and/or attachments.Any questions pLease contact the IT department Dear Town Planning Board member, My name is Emmy Homer and I am a senior at Emmaus High School in Pennsylvania.In the fall of 2025,I plan to attend Cornell University.I am excited to be attending the College of Arts and Sciences and majoring in Economics.In addition to this,I will be playing for Cornell’s field hockey team.Cornell’s competitive field hockey program was a huge factor in my decision to choose Cornell as my next home. My years playing field hockey have taught me many lessons that have played an enormous role in my life.To name a few things,I have learned responsibility,a hard work ethic,and time management.Just as significantly,field hockey greatly affects my physical and mental well-being.I can stay in shape and keep my body healthy through daily practice.As a busy student,I find it very helpful to have a set block of time each day where I am committed to getting a good workout.On the mental side,field hockey serves as an outlet to me and gets me out of a slump when I am having a rough day.It has helped me create many of my closest friendships and best memories. I have played field hockey on various surfaces over the years including grass fields in middle school, field turf during high school,and astroturf in my club seasons.As I got older and played more competitive field hockey,I realized the importance of the turf on which I was playing.Field hockey is a game played with a relatively small ball.If you are not playing on a flat,compact turf,the ball will take unexpected bounces and greatly slow down the game.As I progress into the world of Division 1 field hockey,I am looking forward to an advanced level of competition.A proper turf field is essential to this.The new facility would also provide a considerable advantage to our team by allowing us access to a top-tier training facility.When I went through my recruiting process,schools with facilities similar to the one Cornell is planning to put in served as a huge selling point.This facility would be a big draw for future recruits and could help Coach Andy bring in players which will significantly increase the level at which our team could play.At Cornell,I plan to play at the most competitive level possible.The new turf and facility would help my teammates and me achieve this.I support this project to benefit the Cornell Field Hockey team and hope you can see how much this project will help my future teammates and me.I appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, Emmy Homer 1 From: Sent: To: Subject: FR Laurie Konwinski <Laurie.Konwinski@dor.org> Monday,November 18,2024 2:46 PM Town Of Ithaca Planning info@zerowasteithaca.org Comment for Nov19 meeting on Artificial Turf **WARNING**This emaiL comes from an outside source.Please verify the from address,any URL links,and/on attachments.Any questions please contact the IT department Dear Members of the Planning Board, In my capacity as Justice &Peace Ministry coordinator for Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga,I advocate on issues of environmental sustainability,recognizing that the destruction of the natural environment disproportionately harms the poorest and most vulnerable members of society.I am writing to urge you to oppose any proposals by Cornell University or any other entity to install artificial turf fields.I do this because of the obvious,proven harms such projects cause. Scientific literature is full of studies of the risks to human and animal health causes by contact with and run-off from artificial turf.To cite just one of these,entitled “Environmental risks of breakdown nanoplastics from synthetic football fields”,published in 2024,research has shown that drainage water samples from the artificial turf materials cause high toxicity levels in marine life.Given Ithaca’s proximity to Cayuga Lake and the many creeks and streams that feed into the lake from around the area,the danger to our water supply and natural environment is too high to permit this unnecessary project to go forward. As a cancer survivor and the spouse of a cancer survivor,let me add that,on a personal level,I am dismayed to imagine the number of young people who would be exposed to the toxins in artificial turf and then face malignancies and other serious health issues in their future.It is a matter of public responsibility to ensure that this danger is not present in our community. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Laurie Konwinski Coordinator,Justice &Peace Ministry in Tompkins County Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga 324 West Buffalo St. Ithaca NY 14850 607-272-5062,Press 1 for our Ithaca office,then Ext.12 Laurie.Konwinski@dor.org Statement of Confidentiality This electronic message may contain privileged or confidentiaL information.If you are not the intended recipient of this e-maiL,pLease deLete it from your system and advise the sender.Email Disclaimer 1 From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: V 1912-4 **WARNING**This emaiL comes from an outside source.PLease verify the from address,any URL Links,and/or attachments.Any questions pLease contact the IT department To whom it may concern: Please reconsider the use of synthetic turf for the proposed field hockey field on Game Farm Rd.Synthetic turf poses serious environmental and health risks,including the release of microplastics,exposure to toxic chemicals like PFAS,and contributions to harmful algae blooms.Exposure for the athletes is also harmful due to their close contact with the ground.I advocate for natural grass which provides environmental and mental health benefits,including improved air quality,reduced urban heat,support for biodiversity,and a calming,natural environment that promotes mental and physical well-being.There are no major environmental organizations that support artificial turf.Groups like Sierra Club,GAlA,Beyond Plastics and the Plastic Pollution Coalition all oppose it. Sincerely yours, Dr.Louise Mygatt Zero Waste Ithaca ref:https://docs.cjoocj le.com/documentld/1 9cjSqRd KSPBKYdPn 8kMifFHyGr2sZxvlmd RpuWe ZI U/e dit?tab=t.O#heading=h.op5kf5whOhft 1 From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Louise Mygatt <louisemygatt@gmail.com> Monday,November 18,2024 3:27 PM Town Of Ithaca Planning info@zerowasteithaca.org Synthetic Turf