Conservation Commission monitors crumb rubber cleanup near Wayland High turf field

WAYLAND — March 26, 2025 — Wayland Conservation Commission monitors crumb rubber cleanup near high school turf field. Michael McCall told commissioners Wednesday that two-person crews from Lynch Landscaping were removing crumb rubber from a drainage swale by hand under the supervision of wetland scientist Scott Smyers of Oxbow Associates, racing to meet the commission's April 1 deadline. Smyers said his forthcoming report will recommend no grit chamber, citing the removal of an outfall screen a year ago as the main fix. School Committee member Erin Gibbons cited fiscal constraints and estimated eight to 10 years of useful life on the field; resident Dave Bernstein said Recreation Director Catherine Brenna told him the working replacement date is 2030. Vice Chair Shannon Fischer pressed for full crumb rubber replacement, calling continued leaching "not excusable." The commission also approved Chapter 194 permits and negative determinations for projects at 197 Gleason Lane and 9 Loring Lane, the latter with 18-tree, 42-shrub mitigation.