AUBURN - This isn't your daddy's turf. Or your mother's, for that matter.

That's what project managers at Parrone Engineering wanted school district residents to know, with regard to the proposed synthetic field project for Auburn Enlarged City School District schools.

During a community listening session held Wednesday night in the Auburn High School auditorium, engineers and architects brought along samples of what they referred to as "first-generation turf," which felt like Brillo to the touch, and the modern version they plan to install in one of two playing fields, should the public approve the project this coming fall.

One touch was all it took to persuade Pamela Anderegg, one of the few community members in attendance at the public session who did not have a vested interest in the turf project, except as a taxpayer. Addressing a group primarily comprised of past or present district employees and school officials, Anderegg said she had initially opposed the move for synthetic turf, and had in fact come to speak out against it.

"Then I felt it. It's not half bad," she said.

James Paul was not so swayed, driving home the point that while a synthetic turf field sounds nice, it's not necessary. After listening to Michael Montalto of Parrone deliver a five-option a la carte menu of various improvements to whichever field - at the high school or at Holland Stadium - sees artificial turf installed, he remarked on the variety of choices presented to the district.

"I don't see 'necessary,'" he said. "I see 'optional' or 'nice to have.' There's a lot of things that's nice to have, but is it really necessary," he said. Paul also inquired as to whether a reduction in maintenance costs to synthetic turf might mean more job cuts for employees who now maintain buildings and grounds. That question went unanswered.

Read the full report in Tuesday's editon of The Citizen.