After a tense city council meeting on Monday over the issue of putting artificial turf on Ahern Field in East Cambridge, city manager Yi-An Huang issued a statement Wednesday evening reversing course.

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“After careful consideration of community input, City Council feedback, and the project’s overall goals, we have decided not to install a synthetic turf field or the athletic lighting, which was included to support additional permitted use of the space,” the statement said in part (read the full statement below).

“Instead, we will move forward with reconstructing the natural grass field, including improvements to drainage and irrigation that will enhance field quality and usability.”

“This approach reflects the community’s preference for a natural grass field and will create the type of open space many residents have told us they want to see at Ahern,” the statement said, acknowledging the large number of residents who had argued for natural turf.

Excitement in East Cambridge

At a meeting of the East Cambridge Planning Team (ECPT) on Wednesday, neighborhood residents had been planning further steps to put pressure on the city administration.

“I’m a bit in shock, to be honest,” said Paola Rebusco. “We came into this meeting with flyers and a presentation and then, you know, we heard this. We’re of course very excited. I still have lots of questions but I think it’s a a great beginning.”

Irene Kang was also at the meeting and said that after weeks of WhatsApp group conversations, talking with neighbors formally and informally and other grass roots efforts, “I’m feeling good” about the decision. “There are a lot of parents in the neighborhood and across Cambridge who are all very passionate about this issue,” Kang said.

Bob Simha, the nonagenarian vice president of the ECPT, called the city’s reversal the result of genuine grassroots pressure. “When the people finally speak, when you wake them up and make them angry, they finally have an effect,” he said. He said it makes a particular impression on city councillors when more than 2,000 people sign a petition. Only three councillors received more than 2,000 votes in the last election.  

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Also at the meeting was city councillor Cathie Zusy, who said she thought the groundswell of new voices in city politics had caused the city council and city administration to listen. “It was against all odds to shift the city management, and in this case it’s the best decision for the community,” Zusy said.

Asked about next steps, Rebusco and Kang both mentioned getting some sleep. “I’m planning to go to bed,” Rebusco said. “We have not stopped in weeks.”

Expanded hours at Danehy

Huang’s statement noted that while the filed will have better drainage and irrigation, it “a natural grass surface will continue to have limitations on the amount and intensity of use it can accommodate compared to an all-weather field.”

The statement noted that funding for lighting the fields would be used to expand playable hours at Danehy Park, which has a synthetic turf field.

Huang praised the civic process, saying in the statement “One of the things that makes Cambridge special is the extraordinary level of civic engagement our residents bring to community issues. People care deeply about their neighborhoods, parks, schools, and public spaces, and they are willing to invest their time and energy in helping shape decisions.”

This story was updated with comments from the East Cambridge Planning Team meeting.

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