The Martha’s Vineyard Commission will decide next month on the proposal of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and the nonprofit MV@PLAY to construct a single artificial turf field with organic infill surrounded by a new track. Yet however that turns out, there will still be terrible conditions on the grass fields, not only at the high school but also on the Veteran’s Memorial Park fields used by youth travel soccer teams in Tisbury. These fields suffer from the same sub-par conditions that exist on the high school grass fields. This is the home field for Vineyard soccer players, from 18 down to 10-years-old, yet games are often cancelled and rescheduled because of unplayable conditions. And even on play days, it’s clear to see the field doesn’t stand up to well to the use and borders on hazardous.

There’s a lot to do and yet a year has gone by and the all-grass-or-nothing group has not offered a plan or recommendation or made an effort to actually begin work to improve the existing grass fields. It’s time to move from simply being the opposition to doing the hard work of improving the existing fields. As House Speaker Paul Ryan noted after failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it’s a lot easier to be against something than to get something done.

Whether or not the artificial turf field is approved by the MVC, there are still six fields at the high school that are in very poor shape. And it’s not just throwing down organic seed and counting on the horticulture department and students to do the hard work. Those fields need a complete overhaul, fertile soil, a drainage system and proper irrigation.

The fields that host lacrosse, field hockey and soccer — boys and girls, varsity junior varsity and sometimes freshman teams, daily practices plus game play, not to mention football — are not only an embarrassment, they are beyond simple rehabilitation.

Of course, we believe — and so do the experts we’ve consulted — that the only surefire way to maintain and protect grass fields is to avoid over-use and give them a rest. That’s a rest from play in bad weather conditions and a break from the constant back-to-back practice sessions to allow restoration of the entire plant both below and above the ground surface. That’s exactly why an artificial turf field with organic infill is essential to the success of all the grass fields that will still be the mainstay of these programs, no matter what the MVC decision.

But whether or not you agree with that analysis, there remains a lot to do if your singular commitment is to grass. Estimates to properly rebuild a single grass field, one that can withstand the verities of our New England weather as well as the heavy load of play, both practice and game time, runs about $500,000 for initial construction with major rebuild fees every three or four years according to experts.

Additionally, while a lot of attention has been paid to the cost of recycling and replacing a turf carpet at the end of roughly 10 to 12 years, there has been virtually none given to the cost of properly rebuilding and maintaining the grass fields. Currently, approximately $30,000 is set aside for maintaining the entire high school outdoor athletic facilities — that’s fields, buildings, bleachers, lights and tennis courts. The current budget is a small fraction of the amount needed to maintain healthy grass once it’s established.

At MV@PLAY, we recognized that the high school budget should properly focus primarily on educational and building infrastructure needs. It’s why we formed as a 501C3 to privately raise the $3.5 million needed to construct a turf field, a new track and supporting facilities. Again, disagree with our approach on a philosophical level, but where is the similarly structured nonprofit to aid the grass fields for our student players? It certainly doesn’t have to wait for a commission vote.

There’s a school bell that’s about to ring. By late June, the spring sports season will be finished both at the high school and with youth club sports. Lacrosse, track and field, soccer — all those game events and practices will be over. And that’s the window to promptly get serious about actual work on our grass fields. Let the window close and the fall teams will begin their season after a summer of strong sun and dry conditions and those fields that will still be rock hard dirt, complete with pebbles and rocks and not much grass for proper footing or to cushion a fall.

That’s the window to become part of the solution, not just the loyal opposition. There’s a boatload of work for us all and together, we could make a real difference for our kids.

Matthew Poole lives in Chilmark.