Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.) (pg. B1), December 7, 2006

PESTICIDE-FREE PARKS LEAD TO SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS

[Rachel's introduction: Across the country, people are realizing that they can take precautionary action to reduce their children's exposure to chemical pesticides. It means persuading your parks department to adopt new habits and it's happening widely now. Here's one example.]

By Alison Herget, Keyport Bureau

Parents bringing their children to township park playground areas now may feel a bit safer knowing those grounds are pesticide-free.

An integrated pest management policy recently adopted by the Township Committee allows for playground areas in the township's nine parks to be managed without chemical pesticides.

Hazlet is joining an increasing number of municipalities in the state that have such a policy, including Wall and Brick, according to Jane Nogaki, pesticide program coordinator for the Belmar-based New Jersey Environmental Federation.

Nogaki said the federation started a campaign in March to get as many towns as possible to designate pesticide-free zones in parks. Some counties have even opted to join in. Burlington county has designated pesticide-free zones in its parks, she said.

Hazlet mom Rhonda Soviero, 38, who brings her two sons -- ages 3 and 7 -- to Veterans Memorial Park weekly said she likes the new policy in her municipality.

Now that the playground property is pesti-cide-free, she feels more comfortable letting her sons play. She also said managing areas without pesticides is a good idea not only for the children, but for the wildlife.

Mayor Michael C. Sachs said the township adopted the plan for safety reasons.

Nogaki said studies have measured low levels of pesticides in children in their blood and urine.

"We don't really know what the consequences are," she said. "But knowing that by nature pesticides are toxic substances designed to kill living organisms it's not really the best thing to have in our drinking water or in the bodies of our kids.' "

She said the chemicals easily get on skin, clothes and shoes, and can be tracked indoors to contaminate furniture and carpets. There are several benefits to using pesticide-free methods, she said.

"Using natural methods and avoiding pesticides preserves the beneficial organisms that can maintain healthy grass and plants naturally," she said.

Using a good-quality organic fertilizer, mowing grass at 2 to 3 inches high to decrease weed growth and watering infrequently are natural ways pests can be controlled without using chemicals, she said.

Not using chemical pesticides creates a healthier lawn and avoids the issue of pesticide-runoff, which can lead to contaminated drinking water, she said.

The environmental federation's goal is to get homeowners to follow suit.

"We're hoping there's a take-home message with this," she said. "If people see this being done in parks, hopefully they will want to go pesticide-free at their homes."