Impacts of the 2010 Connecticut School Grounds Pesticide Ban a Decade Later: Part 1. Grounds Maintenance Changes

The use of pesticides on school properties continues to come under scrutiny considering health risks to members of school communities. Legislation in the state of Connecticut in 2010 prohibited the use of pesticide products registered with the Environmental Protection Agency on school grounds. Ten years later, this research seeks to explore the impact of pesticide-free legislation on maintenance of school landscapes and athletic fields. A survey was disseminated to municipal and school representatives in Connecticut. This is part one of a three-part series that documents grounds maintenance changes, grounds quality, and potential transitions to synthetic turf 10 years following this ban. Results indicate that changes to management systems have occurred since the ban. The level of maintenance needed to support healthy, pesticide-free school properties is enhanced due to a reliance on cultural practices. Pest pressures have increased nonetheless, indicating the need for continued educational programming and research related to best practices for managing and maintaining high-quality school grounds without the use of chemical applications.