Laserfiche WebLink
357 <br /> <br /> space used by people for picnics, changing clothes;~ parking and <br /> bathroom use. The park is now being used for adult softball <br /> games and the use of the park for soccer games at other times of <br /> the year may increase with time. There are approximately 2..~or 3 <br /> games each weekday evening, with about 130 people in attendance <br /> per game, from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and <br /> holidays, six or more games are played. Presently, the noise of <br /> the games and vehiCles coming and going disturbs the neighborhood <br /> every weekday evening and all day on weekends. With the addition <br /> of lights, the problems (including noise) will increase, all of <br /> which are adverse to the intention of the Comprehensive Plan for <br /> the use of Washington Park. <br /> <br /> Mr. Marston estimated that without lights there are approximately <br /> 260 to 390 people in the park each evening and approximately 520 <br /> to 650 weeknights with lights. On weekendS, projected attendance <br /> with lights is 1,040 to 1,127. Increased vehicle traffic would <br /> also be expected if lights are installed. Traffic danger will <br /> increase and people use private driveways and church parking areas <br /> for parking during games. He said that residents of the neighborhood <br /> have already endured inconvenience in parking their own cars on <br /> the streets when visitors to the parks have taken up available spaces. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Honor Tinsley of 2306 Glenn Court presented a letter from <br /> the Ridge Street Neighborhood Association opposing the use of <br /> lights in the park for the following reasons: (1) lack of buffer <br /> zone around residential areas to the north and northwest, (2) lack <br /> of parking facilities, (3) increased volume of noise, (4) additional <br /> uses that won't directly involve neighborhood residents, (5) inability <br /> of surrounding streets to accommodate traffic, (6) lack of economic <br /> or social benefit to the neighborhood residents. <br /> <br /> Ms. Ann Tinsley of 1335 Preston Avenue read a letter from the <br /> Benable Neighborhood Association opposing the lighting of the park <br /> and a letter from the Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Association <br /> supporting the Barracks/Rugby/Preston N~ighborhood Association in <br /> its opposition to the lighting. <br /> <br /> Ms. Marty Bass of 1808 Barracks Road said that if the City has <br />money to put into sports facilities~ it should be used for high <br />school sports teams and community wide adult teams, possibly at <br />Penn Park, but not in a residential park area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Drewery Brown of 1201 Rosser Avenue said that neighborhood <br />children have been playing ball in the neighborhood streets because <br />the park is being used by organized teams. He questioned whether <br />the softball teams' fees are being used to partly offset the City <br />expenditures for sports and how many of the players using the park <br />are actually County residents. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charles C. Johnson of 1040 Preston Avenue opposed the <br />lighting of the park because of noise and profanity problems, late <br />night vehicle noise, litter and beer parties. He also remarked <br /> <br /> <br />