<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV>[Sarah here, speaking only for myself.]</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV>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....<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>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...</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><DIV>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. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>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.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>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.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Just my 2 cents....</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>-Sarah Wayland</DIV><DIV> 4711 Sheridan Street<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jun 15, 2007, at 8:19 AM, Regina M. Kreger wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> 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?<BR> <BR> 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. <BR> <BR> I think an artificial-turf, lighted, controlled-access sports field with enough parking for a crowd is out of place in our peaceful park.<BR> <BR> Lisa Grob wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE cite="mid006a01c7af45$7129af70$830010ac@liuna.org" type="cite"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"> <O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><O:SMARTTAGTYPE namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"> </O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE></O:SMARTTAGTYPE> <DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Is it difficult to get a permit? Will this eliminate use of the space for pick up games?<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Lisa<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;"> <HR tabindex="-1" align="center" size="2" width="100%"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><B><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><SPAN style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; font-weight: bold;">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><SPAN style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma;"> <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on"><A class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org">towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org</A></ST1:PERSONNAME> [mailto:<ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on"><A class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org">towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org</A></ST1:PERSONNAME>] <B><SPAN style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B><A class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</A><BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, June 15, 2007 7:36 AM<BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight: bold;">To:</SPAN></B> <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on">Kate Sharpe</ST1:PERSONNAME>; TownTalk<BR> <B><SPAN style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [RP TownTalk] turf field</SPAN></FONT><O:P></O:P></P> </DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Kate<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Thanks for the info. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">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?<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Bruce <BR> <BR> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color blue; border-width: medium medium medium 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">-----Original Message----- <BR> From: <ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on">Kate Sharpe</ST1:PERSONNAME> <BR> <KATHERINESHARPE @yahoo.com="">Sent: Jun 14, 2007 10:44 PM <BR> To: TownTalk <BR> <TOWNTALK @riverdale-park.org="">Subject: [RP TownTalk] turf field <BR> <BR> <BR> <O:P></O:P></TOWNTALK></KATHERINESHARPE></SPAN></FONT></P> <ZZZHTML><ZZZHEAD></ZZZHEAD><ZZZBODY> </ZZZBODY></ZZZHTML> <DIV> <DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Dear</SPAN></FONT></ST1:PLACENAME><FONT color="black"><SPAN style="color: black;"> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">Town</ST1:PLACETYPE></SPAN></FONT></ST1:PLACE><FONT color="black"><SPAN style="color: black;"> Talkers,<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Last night I attended the community meeting about the proposed turf field at the <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Riverdale</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Community</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">Park</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE>. 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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Some points to consider:<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> <UL style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposed turf field would have a life span of approximately 15 years. Similar fields are in use in <ST1:CITY w:st="on">Montgomery</ST1:CITY> and <ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Fairfax</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">Counties</ST1:PLACETYPE>, and at <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Georgetown</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">University</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE>. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">If the county constructs the field, they would fence it (undetermined height), and require a permit for use. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">Permits would be granted according to a prioritized list. The Boys and Girls Club has the highest priority. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">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. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">The lights would be turned on when the field was actually in use, and would be turned off by 10 p.m. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">Lighting would allow greater use of the field, especially in the fall. However, the field could be constructed without adding lighting. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> <LI class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt;">The county is working with the MD Dept. of Environmental Resources to mitigate potential floodplain impacts. <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></LI> </UL><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">The Parks and Recreation proposal was first presented at <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Riverdale</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">Park</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE>’s April Legislative meeting. The Town Council will be discussing the proposal further at our June 18<SUP>th</SUP> Work Session. I welcome your comments and opinions about the proposal. Feel free to contact me on or off list (301-779-2169).<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;"> <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><ST1:PERSONNAME w:st="on"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Kate Sharpe</SPAN></FONT></ST1:PERSONNAME><FONT color="black"><SPAN style="color: black;"><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><SPAN style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Councilwoman, Ward Two <O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> </DIV> </DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> <HR align="center" size="1" width="100%"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT color="black" face="Arial" size="1"><SPAN style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.<BR> <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48246/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/green_center/;_ylc=X3oDMTE5cDF2bXZzBF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDZ3JlZW4tY2VudGVy" target="_blank">Visit the Yahoo! 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