A private group that wants to raise money to refurbish outdoor playing fields at the regional high school has backed away from a plan to use a material made from recycled tires around the athletic track.

Following outspoken concern from community members at a meeting last week about possible health risks from what is called crumb rubber infill, leaders for MV@Play told the school committee this week that they will not use the material.

“We’re happy to report we have heard everybody and we are addressing — rightly so — the concerns that are out there,” said David Wallis, president of MV@Play. “There is an organic infill to the synthetic turf that is a reasonable cost it has been very, very well received and it is an area that we are going to be exploring,” he said.

MV@Play came before the school committee last month to pitch an ambitious plan to renovate the school playing fields. Phase one of the plan involves raising $3.5 million to refurbish the badly deteriorating track. The group has hired Gale Associates as consultants on the project.

The school committee has given a preliminary green light for the project, but no formal licensing agreement has been drawn up.

An informational meeting held last week drew 100 people.

MV@Play is still pushing for synthetic turf, primarily because it would allow more use of the fields.

“Our understanding from the public hearing was the real issue was people were concerned about the health of the kids playing on the carpet, and that’s what were trying to address right now,” said Terry Donahue an organizer who attended the meeting.

High school athletic director Mark McCarthy agreed that a natural grass field would not stand up to increased use. He said current field was resodded about five years ago and has already worn down to dirt.

“Grass will not hold up with the amount of usage we want to bring up here . . . . if you do that now, and put in grass, you’re really wasting your money,” he said.

The school committee will host another informational meeting about the project on Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.