[RP TownTalk] turf field
Alan Thompson and Sarah Wayland
twacks at his.com
Fri Jun 15 13:40:46 UTC 2007
[Sarah here, speaking only for myself.]
I agree completely regarding the permitting and the lights - is the
idea to convert our park into a professional sports complex? I feel
like that's where we are heading....
When I go to the park on weekends, I often see families playing pick
up soccer on the field. The Town has has a sign posted at the Field
of Dreams saying that a permit is required to use the park, which
means no one uses it any more. Now we are planning to take this
other place for pick up soccer away? It makes me sad. When you take
away places for fun constructive activities away, what are people
left to do? Not everyone can join a league, and pay fees to rent
space at a park...
I also do not like artificial turf. Why don't we just put a bunch of
asphalt down on the field? It has the same environmental costs -
including taking away permeable surfaces, generating heat (150
degrees??), etc.
How much does it cost to adequately prepare the soil, and reseed the
field with grass every year? $750,000 over 15 years? That's $50,000
per year! It seems to me like there's a lot of maintenance you could
do for that price.
As some of you know, I am also not a fan of artificial light. If I
lived near that park, I would find those blinding halogen lights
unbearable. We have enough light pollution in this area - I miss
seeing the stars at night. My children don't even know what a
constellation is - we can only see the stars when we go on vacation.
I would hate to see our park contributing to that problem.
Just my 2 cents....
-Sarah Wayland
4711 Sheridan Street
On Jun 15, 2007, at 8:19 AM, Regina M. Kreger wrote:
> I like lights, I like maintenance, and I like all that phase 2 not-
> yet-budgeted stuff ... but I don't like fake turf, and I really
> don't like requiring permits and excluding pick-up games. Fake turf
> is painful for soccer players, unlike football and baseball players
> their knees are uncovered. If someone can be deployed to lock and
> unlock the gate for permitted groups, why can't someone be deployed
> to water the natural grass every now and then?
>
> Actually, even lights I'm not so sure about. They change it from a
> peaceful little slice of nature into a sports facility. Sports-
> field lights can be really, really obnoxious, very big and very
> bright. 55-ft lightpoles? Yech, I wouldn't want to live near it.
>
> I think an artificial-turf, lighted, controlled-access sports field
> with enough parking for a crowd is out of place in our peaceful park.
>
> Lisa Grob wrote:
>> Is it difficult to get a permit? Will this eliminate use of the
>> space for pick up games?
>>
>>
>>
>> Lisa
>>
>> From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org [mailto:towntalk-
>> bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of bruce.wernek at mindspring.com
>> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 7:36 AM
>> To: Kate Sharpe; TownTalk
>> Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] turf field
>>
>>
>>
>> Kate
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the info.
>>
>>
>>
>> I would like to ask our Riverdale residents what they envision for
>> the park. Right now there a baseball field that's off limits
>> unless you have a permit, a couple of tennis courts which are
>> accessible by all, and a possible turf field which will also
>> require a permit not to mention the lights. During the school
>> year and late summer the future turf field and baseball field are
>> used by Dematha and other sports organizations. They will/are
>> also be off limits for our residents without a permit. What I
>> would like to know is where an I going to have a picnic, setup the
>> volley ball net, or have a cookout.
>>
>>
>>
>> It's simply a question of your definition of a park. When I was
>> growing up it was a place for family gatherings, badminton,
>> volleyball, and playtime for the kids. Today, its become more and
>> more about sports. These sports fields take up a large portion of
>> the park (~30%) and are used by primarily non Riverdale
>> residents. Now there is a "proposal" on the table to section off
>> another large portion of the park for sports organizations.
>> What's going to be left for us?
>>
>>
>>
>> Bruce
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kate Sharpe
>> Sent: Jun 14, 2007 10:44 PM
>> To: TownTalk
>> Subject: [RP TownTalk] turf field
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Town Talkers,
>>
>>
>>
>> Last night I attended the community meeting about the proposed
>> turf field at the Riverdale Community Park. The proposed turf
>> field would replace a worn out football/soccer field that is
>> consistently in poor condition. Players using the current field
>> run on hard packed dirt (bad for the joints) and breathe
>> substantial amounts of dust.
>>
>>
>>
>> Parks and Recreation has budgeted $750,000 for an artificial turf
>> field, and an additional $300,000 for possible lighting, a tree
>> buffer between the field and the neighborhood, moving the
>> basketball court to a new location, and 23 additional parking
>> spaces. The county would also like to redo play areas, and add
>> new restrooms and picnic shelters in a later phase that has not
>> yet been budgeted.
>>
>>
>>
>> Some points to consider:
>>
>> The proposed turf field would have a life span of approximately 15
>> years. Similar fields are in use in Montgomery and Fairfax
>> Counties, and at Georgetown University.
>> If the county constructs the field, they would fence it
>> (undetermined height), and require a permit for use.
>> Permits would be granted according to a prioritized list. The
>> Boys and Girls Club has the highest priority.
>> DeMatha would continue to use the field for lacrosse practice/
>> games, and football practice. Their use of the field would not
>> increase, according to the county and DeMatha’s athletic director.
>> The field would not be useable during the day on very hot summer
>> days, because the artificial turf can reach temperatures of nearly
>> 150 degrees.
>> The proposed lighting would be placed on 55-ft poles (the trees
>> surrounding the field are approx. 65 feet high). The county would
>> utilize newer light control technology that increases useable
>> light on the playing surface while decreasing spillover light and
>> glare. A new tree buffer would also be added.
>> The lights would be turned on when the field was actually in use,
>> and would be turned off by 10 p.m.
>> Lighting would allow greater use of the field, especially in the
>> fall. However, the field could be constructed without adding
>> lighting.
>> The county is working with the MD Dept. of Environmental Resources
>> to mitigate potential floodplain impacts.
>> The Parks and Recreation proposal was first presented at Riverdale
>> Park’s April Legislative meeting. The Town Council will be
>> discussing the proposal further at our June 18th Work Session. I
>> welcome your comments and opinions about the proposal. Feel free
>> to contact me on or off list (301-779-2169).
>>
>>
>>
>> Kate Sharpe
>>
>> Councilwoman, Ward Two
>>
>>
>>
>> Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.
>> Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.
>>
>>
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