After living behind Edison Field for 45 years, here are some down-toearth comments on recent proposals. The field is principally a resource for Edison school. Mid-day use is for lunch and general recreation. Students throw around balls and Frisbees and play ad-hoc games, running in random directions. Mornings and afternoons are shared with marching band, cheerleader rehearsal, baseball, football exercises, and school events, including graduation. Diverse users share the field until evening. In morning and mid-afternoons, students, with sometimes muddy footwear, stream across the center of the field on the commuting path from Knollwood Terrace.Although a pristine groomed field might be pleasant to use for some, it’s doubtful that many would be willing to accept usage restrictions and fencing necessary to maintain top notch sports field quality. Insertion of protective fencing, common on sports fields, would add several blocks and minutes to students commute to school. And don’t forget dogs, whose waste is a problem for impervious artificial turf.