Good evening, everyone.
Good evening
We're going to try and get the meeting started here.
Hello, everyone. Thank you.
Welcome. Thank you all, for coming to July 23rd special meeting of the Board of Parks and Recreation. We're going to go ahead and get started with some introductions from the board members
And the staff that's here representing Sale Parks and Rec is a hybrid meeting. We do have some Commissioners online as well. And I'll ask them to introduce themselves as well, and it'll be a little test of our
system. This is a little bit different than our typical board meetings. It's a single issue, meeting we're having on the lower Woodland Park Athletic field proposal, so we will not be taking public comments up front as we usually do
We will be taking, comments on Lower Woodland Park athletic proposal after a short presentation, that, Andy Schaefer is going to go ahead and lead. So, with that, let's just do introductions really quick
And then an acknowledgement, and we'll start with agenda. My name is Ryan Baum. I'm one of the co-chairs of the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners. I'm an at-large commissioner. Just start down the end of the table. Hi, I'm Brian.
Brad Kahn, I represent district six out of Cambridge.
John Flynn with District 3. Thanks for visiting the district.
Michelle Finnegan, Interim Superintendent Park
Michelle Finnegan, interim soup
Everywhere, at large, I live in Westchester
James Storm Cipher, at large live at Kappa Bill
James Williams, District 6, Matt Elliott.
All right, and then online is the test of our AV as well, Whitney and Rebecca, can you go ahead and just briefly introduce yourselves?
Yeah, thanks. Whitney Nakamura, boards and commission seat
And co-chair.
Hi, good evening, Rebecca Rash in District 1 West Seattle.
Thank you, Rebecca, for joining us. All right. We start each meeting with a land acknowledgement. So Seattle Parks and Recreation acknowledging and affirms Indigenous Coast Salish people as original caretakers of our waters and landscape who nurtured and shaped today's parkland
We honor the legacy with gratitude and appreciation, and will safeguard their knowledge and stewardship as enduring treasures to promote community welfare, cultivate inclusive expressions of nature and recreation and commit to land acknowledgement for each ensuing
Generation
All right, and
Just actually asked the other parks staff who's going to be here helping us. I just briefly introduce themselves.
After some seminars
Right. Thank you. Andy
Ready to go ahead.
With our briefing
Recreation
I'm here today to introduce the Adam Public Schools and their proposal to renovate existing facilities to create new facilities support Lincoln High School athletics
Which will serve SPS students, and will also increase recreational opportunities for the public.
First, SBS is proposing upgrades to the existing
And adding field events
Adjacent to the cloverleaf, I've got a real shortage of field events. Seattle, a track program at Seattle Parks and Recreation Buffalo program
We have supported that these via additional field events, field event structure is contemporary
We remove after the track season, so that will be an open space
For a long time we've wanted to make that track of all weather track well down public schools has responded to internal review very well.
Secondly, Seattle Public Schools
is proposing a location
Or… a new football field for Lincoln High School as well.
And I took my field will also serve the you
These facilities serve all of our kids. We have a shared mission with Seattle Public Schools to introduce you to athletics and healthy living. That's why we have the joint use
And I am very grateful, personally, to collaborate with Seattle Public Schools on a regular basis and forward our joint mission to support our youth
We've had several conversations this week. Why Dan issues other than the Steelton Lincoln High School supporting
Matter of access to facilities. The staff's recommendation of Seattle Parks and Recreation to the Board of Park Commissioners is to support the design, permitting and construction
They track the renovation of the existing track, the addition of the field
First, and second
We support Seattle Public Schools in continuing with an environmental impact statement process for the proposal of the new
Park.
As our city grows, we have increasing demand for outdoor recreation
particularly to support our youth and the need for woodland environment to ensure liveable city. This ocean pole was readily apparent in the public engagement process
While public engagement
Yes, there's not a huge support for everyone who's the engagement that SPS conducted today and cited the location of the preferred site
SPS listened and responded with the direction of the proposed site, and pointed out on the video
The most critical friction points requiring this rigorous
5 men of that type statement process
including passive recreation activity, active recreation cyclocross races
The EIS must legally analyze mitigate the silver effects of lighting, noise on nearby residential pockets, as well as ensure safe pedestrian routes
Students walking from the wall and campus
Ultimately, the EIN thrives Seattle public schools and the city to transparently weigh alternative field layouts at the state site
public comment period for any decision to execute the project is made
At EIS will inform final decision by Seattle Park and Recreation
That's the next major decision by itself has to landowner, ensuring alignment with the goal of integrating the document, environmental protection mitigation, and alternatives.
On the topic, as I mentioned before
The renovations exist in track of additional events, staff, highly recommend
forward with that project and with that I would like to turn this over to Richard best executive director of design construction facilities operations Seattle Public School
Thank you.
Andy?
Thank you, Andrew, for that introduction. I'd like to take a moment just to introduce
Two others that are here from Seattle Public Schools. I want to start with our superintendent, Ben Shulter, chief operating officer, Fred Podesta
Executive Director of High Schools and Athletics, Chris Carter, and then our high school principal Lincoln Basketball sorry Eichner. So obviously a lot of interest
And this proposal that we are coming back with you tonight. Thank you all for coming and representing Child Public Schools
And I could get
presentation loaded up.
So why are we here today? We are really here today, as Andy mentioned, to come for you to really seek your approval of a proposal for Seattle Public Schools
to proceed with an environmental impact statement and design to build
Okay.
We are coming before you. Oh, no.
That's taking up quite well.
I know the presentation is not full
Our first big virtual
Hybrid public hearings.
Bear with us while we try to make sure that online. It's still showing the intro slide online
Oh, the slide's not… just the slide's not syncing up. The mics
Great, is this better?
Just continue. Okay, thank you. So we are coming before you tonight as Andy mentioned, to talk with you
And seeking park commissioner approval to proceed with an environmental impact statement and design activities for a field that we would like to place at
North 50th Street and Aurora Avenue
And then we're also coming for you tonight to seek more approval to construct a track
And the associated field events at what I refer to as lowland field hyperson
So, just to give you a little bit of background as to why we're here, this was a process that Seattle Public Schools started about two years ago. We've had extensive community engagement on this process
A meeting that we held on April 25th. Just a little bit later. We really demanded location for the field
at North 50th street, and then Aurora Avenue would be to the west
Oh, we have really slapped our other locations.
One of the reasons we landed here is that it meets the criteria that was identified
But we also recognize that this is a wooden site and that we have tree mitigation that we are going to need
consider in our proposal, hence the environmental impact statement. We have forest canopy that we are going to need to consider in our environmental proposal.
In addition, it talks about the wildlife design at Woodland Park, Lower Woodland Park. We recognize that we are going to have to address that in our proposed as well
And Andy talked about partnership that Seattle Public Schools has had Seattle Parks, and I just want to take a moment to highlight that as well
We have worked together collectively since 192
Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Schools are really our organizations are intertwined. Many of our schools have parks immediately adjacent
Some of our properties are checkerboard. It's surprising to know what Seattle Park Zones and what Seattle Public Schools. Great example being Catherine.
But I just want to, again, highlight the partnership that Abe talks about recently we completed an athletic field high school together. We helped fund the athletic fields here at
Park at Hiawatha and Jefferson, and we we literally meet
I'll reach out and meet on a monthly basis with a team of folks from Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Schools. We need to make sure that we are coordinating our use to minimize our impact on the community
When we take a field offline, we don't want it to be in the same location in the city that Seattle Parks is taking a field offline. That's a big impact to the community, hence why we meet on a monthly basis.
Some of the project drivers on this project
were that we wanted to make sure we had a
That could support soccer
That could support Ultimate, and so we have landed on a size of 195 feet by 335.
We think, this is consistent with the uses that Lincoln High School is going to need
We wanted it to be a walkable location to Lincoln High School
making it a flow would look hard has a long history of activities at Lincoln or Lincoln High School athletics, and so kids walk their
Again, fast forward
1980s to this view around pieces
We also want to look at some of the facilities that are there. We know that there are facilities. There's going to be a need for rescue facilities. We know that's going to be resort storage facilities, and we might provide the opportunity for spectators to
their son or their daughter.
Okay, that might be close to that
That said, we talked about and heard the constraints, the concerns about
We want to recognize that going in. We know that we are going to have to remove some trees. How do we mitigate that? How do we look at orientation field to minimize that? Those are things that we have not yet begun to do
the design process, but we need to know that we need to do that level of work.
Also about forest canopy, and I'm going to hit on those, because I know there's never the audience that are concerned about that. We're aware as well. I've had the great honor of working at Seattle Public Schools for 12 years. We have designed a lot of schools in my tenure here at Seattle Public Schools
And I think our projects have been highly successful, and I want the same outcome for this proposal as well.
We do have budget amendments and we do have lighting impacts. One of the things that I will highlight the lighting
is the new Musco LED lighting. It's very directional, and we can minimize the volcano property line and the spillover
10 years ago, 20 years ago, we were using another powwipe
That wasn't an opportunity. We didn't have that opportunity to do that. There was a lot of spillover
Oh, but they'll be technology, we have great directional lights, so we can minimize the candles that are going to spill out
look back, I'm gonna say that my staff started with an exploration
Literally 20 various sites around and nearby Lincoln High School
We look as far away as Mont Lake
Really, we kept coming back to the driver of it needs to be in a walkable location to Lincoln High School
Lincoln High School students today are driving approximately 30 minutes to our Robert Eagle Staff Middle School field a little bit further to our Ingram High School field, and that impacts upon the educational program
that impacts on the athletic program, and so that was a huge driver for the selection of this site.
We did come together with a proposal to look at one play field. What we heard from the community when you're looking at long for playfield
The proposed field is too large, it will dramatically change the character of the park. And the community said
View elsewhere. Some of those community members highlighted your parking lot at Lower Woodland
We came and looked at the overflow parking lot. We also looked at another location at lower Woodland adjacent field number
Again, what we heard from the community
We've got two fields located side by side that are too crowded. We'd like you to really explore the opportunity to build the field
on 50th Street, kind of
So our feedback, we have been in several public meetings. We have gotten feedback from various community groups throughout
In the City of Seattle the bikers treat climate
action group. We are very aware of these, you know areas that we're going to have to mitigate in our project when we go and design construction, and we will address them in our environment
On April 25th, we held a meeting at Hamilton International Middle School. Proximately 300 members showed up. And this is really where we talked about
Field number two. We talked about the 50th and Aurora site. And then we also talked about the track and field event improvements
that we're looking at making a field number 7. Not much controversy at all about track and field events
really comments that I will see staff received have really not spoken with any
concerns expressed the track and field, so you're asking tonight that we'll be asking for approval of the track and field events going as a
Just, just a point of clarification, we will not be voting on approval tonight. That, is currently scheduling agenda for our Thursday
regularly scheduled board meeting, this is just a public hearing on the topic.
Thank you.
So these were really the three options that we looked at on April 25th. We looked at, as I said, a side-by-side option located
field number two, we looked at a standalone football, soccer, but we also use ultimate most likely lacrosse as well. At 50th and Aurora. And then we looked at could
enhance field number two for football, create a soccer field at 50 and more
overwhelmingly, we heard that 50th or more would be really positive to activate that
That is an area that has had security issues. And
community that showed up overwhelmingly in support of option B. That is not to say that there weren't supporters for option A. Option A is a little bit faster for us to implement, and
There were also supporters option C, but the majority are in support of option B
So, as I highlighted, top takeaway product support option G. Again, I want to highlight what we did hear concerns raised on trees
parking
Pedestrian safety will be definitely addressing those in our environment impact statement and our design
So our request to you tonight is, again, I know you won't be voting on it, but our request is that you approve public schools going forward with the design permit
And, are both sides, multi-sport athletic field that would fit this street in Aurora
to be addressed during the design phase
But during the environmental effects statement, you know we want to develop strategies for mitigation. We want to look at field orientation. We believe field orientation is critical
To mitigating tree removal. Obviously, you have to do that in concert with looking at, you know, the sites and potential for the painting walls. But that is something that we need to study inspect
We need to have conversations with Andy and team about what the storage facilities look like for Seattle public schools and high school, what type of things do we need to store there? How much space exists today
We need to look at, restroom facilities as well
And then, at the end of the process, we need to develop an operating agreement so we understand who's going to be replacing the field. It has lifetime of 10, 12 years based
Our fields that I heavily used, as Andy highlighted
They are… a community does not have enough fields for use, so we think this to benefit to construct another field. We'll definitely be placing lights on this field to allow that to be extended into the next
So these are just some possible field orientations. You know, we will definitely be exploring an east west orientation, north south orientation, and then potentially even a diagonal orientation so that we're minimizing tree removal
One of the things that we know on site is access the southern portion of Lower Woodland Park from 50th. Is there a way to combine those accesses rather than have two entry points on one plant additional trees at that second entry point
West emergency vehicles, you know, let's get injured
Community members get injured on fields, so we definitely want to make sure that we are thinking about emergency vehicle access to those fields as well.
From a permitting standpoint, environmental impact statement is a significant endeavor, but it is not the only endeavor.
You will have to go through a city of Seattle Commission use permit
part of your oncology, MPES, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System will have to secure that permit
Building permits, and then also a master use permit for
Looking at a rough timeline
For this project.
With for approval, we'd like to begin to sign and start work on the environmental impact statement will definitely be engaging community and conversations
We think the design and studies period 2-year period
Permitting will take the significant amount of time as well for the City of Seattle permit process, and then we believe construction 12 months as well.
looking
If
roughly 2029 timeframe
We'll be looking also at how can we expedite
What measures can we do that
Second proposal we talked about is the track. We would like Commission to
Proceed with the track of design, permitting, and then ultimately construction
We talked about the reasons why I'm not really heard much feedback on the track. This will take field of summit hotline this summer while we implement the track improvements
And so if you want to create awareness for park Commissioners on that
Again, it's Andy highlighted, we're looking at putting a track
Around the perimeter of field number 7, and then field events to the South, the field events will be out in the spring and then
placed in a storage facility and not used when it's not track season
At the end, we have some permits that we're going to need to secure for this project as well permit, city of Seattle condition used permit, and then a building permit for
We do believe that this project in a more expedited timeframe, and that's why we want to separate them so we get the benefit
utilizing this track, potentially, a year earlier. I will highlight Lincoln High School has a very active track program and it currently serves
So in summary.
We are, looking
And then…
Next steps. We know we're going to continue to work with Seattle Parks and Rec Andy and I talk frequently talk frequently prior to this effort beginning, but we talked more frequently now
I'd like to begin the design for the contractual innovation, hire a consultant to form the EIS
And we highlighted just a small group of folks that we need to connect with
As we move forward with this project to make sure that we're hearing their voice and can address their concerns
With that, I don't about potential questions.
So just to reiterate
The request is for Seattle Public Schools to move forward with the traffic material
And to move forward on EIS process for the proposed new bid. I apologize for saying our supply and fields does not meet the demand
Then we don't have enough people, or we don't have enough folks to have
And it's equally about that as well. And I'm a huge fan of Pisces. We use them a lot in Seattle parks
Very surprising, the results. Some projects where I think this is
Very straightforward, we do the CIS project, in a year and a half
And in other cases where it seemed really obvious that what the environmental impact was going to be as a surprise by the level of mitigation
The other thing that's really important in EIS processes is that there's a design problem. Is this the best design is very obvious.
I didn't feel like the orientation hasn't cut himself. That's what it's all about. A lot of the comments we most majority of the comments
We can see questions would be better answered by subject matter experts
That's an EIS. had the subject matter experts responded to those specific concerns, defendant to have gives you the clarity you need
And then, Andy, in our next board meeting, you're going to give a short basically recap the presentation. We're going to
Take questions if needed. Okay.
Anyone have any questions? So will VIS be responding to a proposed single playfield layout, or will the EIS actually look at… you'll submit all three
with enough detail to show trees where other like it's this weird thing of how do you design it without the IS? How do you do the Eis without the design? So it's sort of a schematic level design that goes to the Eis
So I'll note that generally EIS is will look at 2 or 3 locations there, and so on that probably have three alternatives to look at plus the no alternative which you're required to do
Thank you
Other questions?
Thank you. I mean, we gathered to have this hearing to hear from members of the public. So next item on our agenda is comments on the proposal for the lower Woodland Park athletic fields. Ben or Paula, can you just give a
Overview of the public comment procedure just before we start at the mic please. Yeah
For public comment we are speaking
The topic I just heard about, and you guys will have two minutes
I will, and we'll give you notice
That has a title, right there.
They're online and in person
I
There are some online as well. Okay. We'll keep an eye as we call. And you have the comments in order, sort of people signed up, roughly, is that correct? If you did not
I submit a request for you to get that in there. My apologies, we are limited by the logistics of that. You are also welcome to submit public comment via written comment to our PKS underscore VPRC
Email address, and those do get sent to all the board members, and they are instructed explicitly to read those exactly the same. We have 32 sign-ups for public comment today, 2 min each. You can do the math. We do ask you to remain
Very quiet during this process. We do not have air conditioning in this room, and I'm sure all are feeling that the same way people are. Many of you all do wear a sweater. Alright, thank you, Ben. And just to reiterate, those written public comments, they are sent to all Commissioners
We read through… I promise I read through all of them. There have been several hundred comments submitted online. We do get all that. We do process that, we do take that into consideration as much as any comments submitted. Obviously, not everyone can be here in person, so
Those comments are valuable as well. The one other nuance are for anyone who's online listening to this, if there is clapping or loud noise is the way the mic works, it will pick up that and basically not be able to hear anything else, so I do ask folks to try and
Respectful. I would really prefer not to try and cut people off, so you're able to stick to that commitment, we really appreciate it. Ben who we have up first for public comment? I'm gonna give you the first screen. Oh, great.
Alright, just please ask you, do come up to the mic, there are folks obviously online listening as well.
The words that I just spoke to are wonderful.
Sierra, as we know what today is going to do
that these trees have been around me for a long time. They're starting to go away.
But we, as Native people, realize that when we pass away, we end up back in the streets. It's a simple science project, everybody can verify it
And so, I'm here to advocate for the treaties. That's not to say we shouldn't have these fields
But what I am saying, that what's in these trees is extremely important to the native people
And so, preservation of that, is that possible?
So, thank you for your time.
Thank you, Commissioners for holding this public hearing. I'm Sandy Shetler with Reactions Health
This project has become the conflict between legitimate community interests. The neighbors are concerned about traffic, the BMX community wants to preserve its space. Lincoln High students want a home field. Everyone is here because they're trying to protect something they care about
But we need all these interests is one thing we offer families, a healthy environment
These maturities are not just DNA, they are public health and research. They rule our neighborhood, and protect people during extreme heat
Every participate depends on the benefits those trees provide. That's one of the true impacts of option B matters so much. Last November, the school district own consultant, we do not intend
recommend option B. It's hard to impact since she made that statement, Phil has not become stronger. The grading has not changed, yet the estimated tree loss has somehow dropped dramatically
When we ask for the trade inventory and project overlays according these new numbers, we were told that no such risk exists. Looking at the site with trees in the lot and forest in every direction, it's clear that no orientation of full-size athletic
would avoid massive loss. Please bring the school, the neighbors, the BMS community and parks together to find a solution at Lower Brooklyn, where athletic fields already exist, and recreation infrastructure is already established
When everyone gives a little, everyone benefits
But when we asked for us to give everything, we all please. Thank you. Thank you
Commissioners and community, I know we're all here to advocate for our kids now and in 2029 and beyond.
I'm Sarah Lapis. I'm an SPS parent and project director for the Robert Eagle Staff Medical School
With that same commitment to the future, we must honestly consider if proposal's environmental and political impacts
As my colleague Sandy shared, there is no realistic way to build suicide without massive
And those losses are not abstract. Guidance is clear. Removing large, healthy trees and replacing them with pavement or artificial turf causes immediate and significant warming. Up to 20 degrees or more on our harvest days.
Tree canopy pets, urban heat island impacts nearly in half. Seattle is already fifth worst in the nation for urban heat islands. We can't afford to remove large portions of one of the city's healthiest remaining forests
Most importantly, there is no planting plan that can replace what would be lost, even if every sapling survives, and increasingly, they don't, due to the very heat stress this project would make worse.
If the new trees live, they won't provide the cooling benefits these large trees currently offer in our lifetimes or our kids' lifetimes.
Meanwhile, as we've all felt this week, our heat waves are becoming more frequent and more extreme
Our children are watching the decisions we make. Someday they'll ask us when the hottest years on record
Keep happening. What did you choose? Did we remove healthy living for us and replace them with hot paint and plastic surfaces, or did we have the courage to protect the irreplaceable natural infrastructure that protects us
I hope our answer is one.
Next up.
Can you walk?
Yeah.
Yeah, let's fix it for you.
Okay, can you hear me now? Is that better?
Yeah, John, the green lights flashing. Does that
We were able to hear you go to the board. I'm sorry for the audience, unfortunately.
In 1903, John Olmstead wrote this portion of the car is covered with the remains of native woods, which might be sufficient to preserve typical character of the woods which once clove the entire region
It's one of those few places in our city where we can be surrounded by many trees and vegetation, with preceded salmon, and urbanization
Walking through the channels here puts you in touch with me. This is serving to our children to see owls at dusk
It's really much private, but it's diligently willing slips without paying us. It's a space that after Snowfall, transforms into little light
Lighting sweaters, but mostly it's one of the few places in North Seattle where one can go to experience nature through city
A proposal is also important
This is really not just for that.
The proposed design runner will offer native trees pure more pure
It includes massive
It will require excavating. It says, in some places, over 35,000 cubic direct soil, and even more tree surface, and it can be altitude.
The space is in the standing lights all fault.
Even the school district consultant's team protected option
I'm originally rich at this point, option B, and keep the woods in the
Thank you.
Okay.
Okay, my name is Chris Wallace and I am a retired attorney, longtime resident of Seattle
And then, launch the door, saying, it comes around sometimes. So I went to the site in the southwest corner
And yes, it's
those words.
But when you look around, you can see online gorgeous trees
It should be maple trees, herb trees, cedar trees all around the edges of the river lot
And, there are a few, stays in the Y itself
It's a beautiful site, and you can't improve on those trends. I look at the Sheffield memo and talks about robust investment
Tree canopy and some shanded tree establishment periods. But there are quite some saplings, some small trees were taken out the big ones. Well, that is going to do
Very interesting recipe for a complete disaster.
We've got the canopy we need right now
And I think the soldiers needs to reconsider what it's doing what some other athletic consulting
And recognizing border tools just to get better exercise and athletes.
But, it's not
Almost freezing
When we do that, we are dropping
Cheryl Bird.
And so, thank you.
Thank you.
Hello, Commissioners, my name is Zone and I am assistant coach, high school football. So 16 years. As an average chair, one of the Northwest Chairwomanes, plant a lot of trees for a lot of plant trees
How many water is there room for trees and children? The beneficiary reported in 1907 at Lincoln High School
It is closed for 4 years, Busy didn't work out.
1927, woman by the name of Ellen Bailey, if you want to know the Bailey Park
CPU on there. I said, we'll give you $3,250 to buy the piece of land. And she said, I'll sell it to you." And I looked at us each other
And then in 2007, it felt disarray, and so this board and this community got together and we go
Sam Krima got clear cut. Discovery was clear cut
526 buildings and a million men went to war, 600 students internally at Memorial Stadium. There's got to be room for children and trees.
These are early kids, my son's a good kid
I want more sports and less friends.
He's supposed to swing 10.5. He's up at 6 o'clock in the morning, he doesn't get up until 10.30 in the morning. We go headlin High School, we get kicked off the field. We just hit the lower room, 3 weeks ago, we were asked to move four times at our full football career, by our Frisbee
But an adult baseball team, a soccer team that have bought the field
And then we have to go out and compete against other teams. And now kids are doing what they did in high school were the biggest high school in Seattle
We have a small facility seven years ago, no fields. We are family kids. We are a family of mental health. And I'm telling you right now, there is no more trees. There's room for children.
My attitude is gratitude for all of you here for three years. You do it three. Let's work together in the spirit of Ella family and look down and seek to explain
adults playing for speed issues. Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
Well, by Andrew Siemel
Good evening, my name is Jake Loger, I'm resident of Seattle.
I'd like to start with the civics muscle
Well, Washington became a state in 1881, part of the funding of the schools came from cutting down troops
Unfortunately, that practice told her first
Kind of lesson we're teaching our children, we cut down trees so that we can follow education
I think that is wrong, and I hope that most of the people in this room think that is wrong
The first rules by cutting down trees is just one
Similarly, that lady is Monica cuts on trees, a large grown to build a sports field
There are other options to set the sports field, but the superintendent shows the one that has the largest environmental impact
A large slash of trees. Again, what kind of blessing is this? The lesson is, we need space to build something, then we'll just cut down the trees
Another set of questions. For many decades, there used to be hydroplane races on Greenland
A community of hosting this activity required a while to no avail. And in 1984, a baby snow leopard died in the zoo with direct correlation to the hydrochromise
This led to the end of the hydroplanes Agreement
This incident prompts me to question the potential impact of locating a sports field adjacent to the zoo
What are the consequences for the animals?
They can't move on as a football game. This is their home. We need to protect it. And one of the trees and whether the animals in the trees that are cut down
And what about the humans? The residents of Seattle have thought to walk through this part of Mumblund Park, taking the majesty of the trees. As we grow our city, we need more parks for trees
The city of schools, once you're doing just the opposite. I ask you to look at plans without such a large environmental impact. Believe me, I love sports, I love football, but we can do both.
Thank you.
Next
Thank you all for holding this hearing, and thank you all for this one. I am a parent of six, a law professor. Three of my kids are at Indian now. One is a graduate of Lincoln. I had a very different experiences. I want to talk to them, talk about them
Talk about it briefly. Put simply, I've been involved in this district for a long time, and one of the great successes that we've seen is Lincoln has worried when it was opened, need another high school, couldn't we fill it? Lincoln has been a success in every level
largest in the city academically successful, one of the social and emotional learning, bring college placements, great sense of community. The one thing that has been missing, and one thing that was promised was equity with the other schools in the district
tons of athletic fields so that the students didn't have to make sacrifices that were incommensurate for what other students did in order to access this wonderful community
Funds were set aside, the process was started, and it's been delayed, and it's been delayed, it's been delayed. I want to speak to the costs of that. The costs of that are emotional
Mental and physical health of our students to their sleep to the hundreds and hundreds of hours the parents have spent tracking their students, driving their students, creating more traffic to get their students to further away to further away fields
And the valuation of our time, the valuation of our students' mental health has not entered into the process of calculating what to do, when to build a field, how to push it through and to the degree that one would
Our students haven't been treated as full members of the community, other interests have been forwarded. This game of whack-a-mole where every time a program proposal was put forward, an idea or location was suggested. Another reason was come up with
Hawaii. This location…
It's time to move forward the process to issue the requirements to approve the track, and to get going with the promises we've made. Thank you.
Thank you. Hi.
Thank you, Commissioners, for the opportunity to speak to you this evening. My name is Beth Ledoux, I'm a resident of Seattle proud graduate of Roseville High School.
But I now find myself as the co-president of the Lincoln High School TSA.
I adhered to voice support for moving the Lincoln Athletic Field project into the environmental impact phase
stay in the case
It's unfortunate to see that we're doing a trees versus field discussion, because it's more than that. It's about following through on a commitment to voters and to our students
I work in environmental sciences in the public sector, and I know that any public project of this size will come with impacts. There is no perfect location that won't have impacts
And in fact, not doing the project has its own impact being environmental. We're asking a student body of about 1,800 students, 50 to 70% of which participate in sports. They're driving 30 min to fields all across Seattle
We know this has two impacts, we know that this has higher dust impacts recently been led to the death of salmon in streams. There's just impacts relations to do these kinds of projects
But one thing I know is that impacts can be mitigated, and the EAS process provides clarity and transparency by weighing project impacts against product benefits
While identifying and exploring reasonable alternatives and mitigation techniques
We need to trust this process. The voters approved building field in 2022.
We have exhausted our options for other sites. It is time to fulfill our commitment to the voters that made a promise
Thank you
Sivan
Heard that right? Thank you. Helen, I see that you are not in line.
And having a dedicated team will improve the experience of school sports, not just for me, but for everyone participated
Having a field gives us a place to consistently practice with no students from outside schools having priority of the field?
This would also save us the time of grabbing the Ingram, giving us more time to practice, and to do homework. Thank you for listening. I hope you consider approving this proposal.
Ellen, I will give you permission to unmute yourself. You will still need to do that. Once you begin, we will start the clock for two minutes.
And North, you'll be nice.
Ellen, I think you just muted yourself again
You need to unmute on your end, please.
Go ahead.
Hello? Oh, okay. Good evening, my name is Ellen, and I'm a Seattle resident. I'm concerned that the current proposal would have the greatest environmental impact among the options considered
It will remove many significant mature trees. And after the recent heat we experienced, I think we should be protecting, not removing the shade and the crawling these trees provide.
I think these mature trees support students' physical and mental well-being, not just the environment. So once they are gone, they cannot be replaced in our lifetimes
I hope we can find a solution that meets students' needs without asking our urban forest to bear the greatest cost
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for having this meeting, I would appreciate any support
I've always emphasized. I don't relate on our time of the field builds physical and mental health, confidence, resilience.
There are lessons that can't be developed in the classroom. They're earned on a team, hard work, set hands, and victories
We've heard that Lincoln is the largest comprehensive high school and sorry, the largest high school in Seattle, and the only comprehensive high school, but you might not understand exactly what that means for parents
Because Lincoln doesn't have its own field, many of our teams have to practice at 6.25 every morning before school five days
traveling tomorrow may not seem so bad if you live in Wallenberg currently, but many of our students are traveling from Agriolia today. The schedule makes it almost impossible for students who don't have their own transportation to be able to participate
We should not be asking our students to be getting up at 5.30 in the morning. Ironically, staff think that Scattle Public Schools moved away from for these delayed high school start times because research shows teenagers need more sleep
Many languages, including football, track, marching band, world bust across the city, as we've been doing. We've done the math. The average Lincoln football player spends approximately 220 hours riding buses in a single season
getting just to and from practice. That's equivalent to 33 full days of school
That's timely could be spent training, studying, resting, or simply being a teenager.
I am asking you to move this process as we might
Hello, my name is Sue Mickel and sole arts.
This project will end up very ruling nature
in Seattle
At this point, the true impacts of option B cannot be adequately understood, because the design is not sufficiently developed yet. For example, we are shocked at the potential loss of 40 to 8
Plus, mature and healthy trees in an area intended to be part of Park's world
You, the Lord, need to be the steward of the entire parks
And not see responsibility for such a large area of his school district for a restrict
The design should not be left in control of the school district alone. Parks, park Commissioners need to have an active role
To ensure there is no object
And you are the key to this process, and we ask that you ask hard questions, and get real answers to the design of the field, preferably before allowing the process to move forward. And this is especially important in line with the unknown
of the City Council vote on the Council Bill 121215, which will eliminate the public's ability to appeal the environmental impact statements
We are very pleased to see that option A and the LA of old 100 year old plus indentries along way will not be enacted because lots of these historic trees
is frankly non-negotiable to access
With that caveat, we believe it would be important to continue evaluation of options.
We believe we field dimensions. I'm sorry. Thank you.
I'm sorry, no
My name is Bruce I don't also represent the Board of Transit Seattle City Parks. I want to read a quote from John Charles Olmstead to describe the vision that he had for Winlan Park
He says one of the most essential landscape features of the woodland park is the woodland from which the ride is born the same. For the dwellers in the city, the woodland is fancy is one of the most interesting and refreshing sorts as it forms a complete contrast to all the ordinary city streets of parks
In the case of Woodland Park, the wild beauty that was very long every effort she made to preserve it while making it conveniently discussable.
So
Although the proposed ball field, what Dr. Kai mentioned the degraded area parking, which, by the way, I don't think was part of the original plan. I don't know the history of public
But the problem is, once this is done, we're losing forever potential of that entire area. So please keep that in mind.
Are making your decision to we also want to mention that there are issues which are obvious about grading the site. It's much more complicated than option A because of the screening amount here that needs to be moved
We don't have time here to get into it, but we have some ideas. If you do perceive it as to potentially reduce the impact on the side by leveling that out a little bit and not taking as much
Any more
Regardless, it's a huge impact on that space we would urge you to reconsider options Sue and I actually walked aside we measure we have some ideas on option A that could work
And potentially, have much less impact, and importantly, much lower cost than option B, because of the athletic fields are already impacted. Thank you very much.
I just want to say that this has been obvious which are native are continuous work
This proposed by the project
But tonight I'm going to focus on the topic that two people have thought talking about, which is the friendly mix
Currently, this project is estimated at a cost of over $9.4 million. Does the school district amplifies needed to proceed with this project without headquarters because of cost.
Agent
to have a positive one will participate in the development of the project scope. It is not reasonable to allow the school district to take into account all the concerns regarding impacts
Environment facility
this conscious mandates transparency and inclusivity for such an important decision regarding land use and public park
The first describing the user will take on the cost of maintenance for the project after it is built. What will that take away from other department obligations? Should the school district have to contribute annually to cover that cost? How will the fuel be used by the public
It is primarily for practice only high school students, and not householder footprint
These are just some of the questions that need clear answers
Commission
Commissioners need to retain an oversight will continue to be sure to ask the right questions get asked and answered before the project moves forward soon.
I am asking, please reconsider other options if we'll come at NFR greener class for our future, just wanted to keep on
Thank you.
Good evening, commissioners. My name is Clay Packard, and I'm the head football coach at Lincoln High School.
When I spoke before you this year, earlier this year, and many tonight, we have all described the challenges linking students face every day simply trying to reach a place where they can practice. Tonight, I want to focus on gratitude and the opportunity now before
Thank you to the Lincoln coaches. All the Lincoln coaches and the school administration who have continued to advocate for our students. Thank you to the Seattle Public School Superintendent, Ben Scholdner
For supporting this effort, and thank you to all the parents, families, and community members who have given their time, energy, and voices to get us to this moment. Your commitment to young people and their future well-being is inspiring.
But gratitude must now be followed by action
The next step is here. You have the opportunity to create a new asset for the community, one that will support not only Lincoln students, but young people, families, teens and activities throughout our community for generations to come.
For the waves of future Lincoln Links, this field will mean more than a place to practice or play. It will be give them a sense of home. It will teach responsibility, and it will create pride in their school and their community.
Whether it be my two sons or the kids I'm blessed to coach, I constantly preach legacy
Be the community member others look and strive to emulate
Each June at camp, our players huddle together to find legacy for themselves, laying the foundation for the year ahead.
Moving forward, Commissioners, now is the time for you to define your own legacy.
Thank you for your time.
I'll follow my call
Yeah, I already have a meeting about Lincoln's fields being held at in Wayfield
something that Bill Henry would be proud of
Esteemed members of the Parks Board, my name is Lieutenant Colonel Tyre Jason Garno, and I come to you tonight as a concerned citizen
We can set this and coach, and someone who will be a Lincoln parent for the next seven years
When I retired from the Army, my family and I chose to settle in Keenan, mainly for the quality of school
That our children would attend, including Lincoln
In our experience at Coe Elementary and McClure Middle School have thus far been nothing short of exemplary
It was my daughter, an incoming freshman at Lincoln, who discovered the job posting for the head wrestling coach at Lincoln
Knowing that I've wanted to coach high school wrestling since my time as a volunteer wrestling coach while teaching at the United States Military Academy of West Point
What I've seen in my short time in the area and in this role is that while the academic program at Lincoln is absolutely top notch
Surprisingly, despite the fact that Lincoln is the largest and only 4A school in the city, it is the poorest resource when it comes to athletics
From a personal standpoint, this means that the wrestling team shares and competes for practice space with the cheer squad in both the boys and girls basketball teams.
And a weight room that only supports about a third of the team at a time
That's small potatoes compared to what the football and track teams are forced to deal with on a daily basis with their current situation practicing at England
The amount of money and time spent busing the kids to and from England and getting home from practice and eating dinner after 9 p.m. As a parent, frankly, is unacceptable
And that's not to mention the loss of participants that both teams have suffered due to the problem of the practice
When I first heard the woes regarding Lincoln Field, I was appalled that nothing has been done in the four years since the five levy has been passed. But as I learned more and more, I found that my anger was misplaced
After many years in the federal government, I know that interagency work is hard, but this group should be applauded for their work up to this point. I see the dialogue between SPS, Seattle Parks, and the community as a model of interagency cooperation and community engagement
With that in mind, I humbly implore you to approve the proposal
as given info. Thank you.
Polly
Can you hear me? I think it may have gotten turned off again.
Yeah
Okay. My name is Molly Spanisha. Thank you so much for being here today. And thank you. They've been such a great nuanced discussion. I am a North Wallingford
Community member, I live 6 blocks from the proposed option B. I am an advocate for Seattle's tree canopy goals. I am also a longtime rouser for the health of
Children, and healthy outdoor sports for not just lame and students, and, we've heard tonight about the number of Lincoln students, but also, we're gonna talk yet, I don't think, about Hamilton students who are also affected by
So that's 2,700 kids currently, and their families who are all community members that benefit from this field. And then also ended up being an athletic mom, I made, you know, I serve dinner at 9 30 turning football season
Because with the long commute that you've heard about, that's an inconvenience, but it's also, when you think about it, all the families that are doing this all over town, all the guests, all the time, all the money, all the carpet, year upon year upon year, it's a really big deal
Not just for us, but for the environment, too, so let's consider that. So I think the proposal to move ahead is responsible. I think good points have been made about the process, the EIS process, what voters have voted for, the tough questions that, yes, we should ask along the way, y'all should
Because we all care about our community, we all care about trees. If anything, I just beg and plead for this to go faster. 20 sites! You've heard that? 20 sites! Years and years have gone into this
Hi there, is there anything that can happen that can be expedited when we're thinking about all the impacts of all the people affected? I love the timeline to go faster. Thank you.
I'm Hans Gordal. I'm a neighbor of the park. I've been a voiceover
with, like, LS community members
I don't know the student, but I respect the need to balance all the constituencies that have a stakeholders. And there's a lot of hard trade-offs, right? You know, we heard, you know, for example, one key point to make is like option A, but there's option A has legacy offset trees
non-negotiable
So where do we turn, right? And in engaging with Seattle Public Schools on this process
It seems to me that the recommendation for activating the Group 5 is a
thoughtful recommendation that makes good progress to balancing the needs of these different constituencies and building a consensus, not uniform plan
But a consensus that could move the project forward at one wax. So, you know, as part of this process so far is this decision and discussion, the center of gravity moves from Seattle Public Schools to the arts board
You know, I speak as someone who would love to see the tree impacts mitigated at that level application. But I think the gravel application is really
Far from perfect, but, you know, pretty fair compromise for various constituencies
And this process has turned me from an energy of that concern to an energy support. So I want to put my voice in the room
In that direction. Thanks very much. Thank you. Next up, Erica Piccolo.
Thanks for having this meeting. My name is Erica Bigelow, calling for neighbor and Scout Public Schools parents, and I'm here to talk about the stewardship of Lower Woodlands Park
First, I might say that I strongly support the Gravel application of 50S4 Lincoln's field, but beyond that, I'd like to talk about the actual orientation of that field
What I'd like to say is that the community option, which is similar to the diagonal version that's on the record last slide, is the best option. So that option removes fewer than 20 trees and preserves every large evergreen, while option B, for example.
removes more than 40 trees, including western red cedars, which can live over a thousand years. Option B also removes a mature tree buffer program that healed entirely, which puts the neighbors along the parking lot and
And with regards to parking
There are 170 parking spots that exist already in the picnic room, so there's really not a need for more parking there. And without it, you're able to orient the field in a diagonal version, and also it will allow the picnic group discussion
And that's really important for cross-country and for cycling costs. They can historically use that space for their needs
So, Parks and public spaces work best when the people who use them and live around help shape the outcome, and I think we all know that. And we actually have a perfect example of this already in Wallingsburg at the North Cancer Station. So that design was actually chosen and built for that facility, that design
came to the suggestion by a neighbor, and SB listens, and now we have this award-winning facility down there. So, this is what happens when local knowledge is treated as an asset, and I think there's a lot of great local knowledge around this park and its users.
And so as you're considering this, just think about what is truly needed at the space, and then choose a community option, because it's going to say trees, it's gonna minimize neighborhood effects, and provide an amazing fields for Lincoln and our other preferences. Thank you.
Okay, next up George Dr. Doris
Former
Arborists in Seattle, I ran a tree service company for 20 years at Stockman, doing tree service when the city of Seattle changed the tree ordinance laws to allow private contractors to cut down so many trees in Seattle, eliminated tree camping.
We're talking about school fields that are much needed. The problem doesn't lie in cutting out the fields and parks. The problem lies in the city council cutting down trees throughout the city
The problem also falls to the board members of the Seattle Public Schools by creating a school with 1,800 kids when you have other schools like David Hale that are struggling to keep a population of 1,000, because you're sucking the talent out of
those schools and shuffling them off to a school like Lincoln, which he claimed is a success, only because you're funneling in the smartest kids in the entire city into that school
you're cutting away the community from other schools like Nathan Hale, like Ballard like other schools like that, and drastically increasing the impact on the students at Lincoln, which is
massively overcrowded. Kids don't even eat lunch in a lunchroom at Lincoln. They eat it in the halls. They don't have a space to go. They don't obviously don't have a waiting room that supplies enough space for students to work out
These are all problems that were made by the City Council, by the Seattle
Ordinances that were put in place, and that is the fundamental problem that has caused this
Argument between whether or not to build a field or leave trees up. So that's what I implore you to do is to go back to the roots and have some forethought as to what the future of our city is and fix the problems that are underlying causes. Thank you very much.
Hello, I'm Kyle using SDS parent and board member of Francisco Homestead Parks
As a COPS parent, I willingly travel further for ISI'll put Frisbee names, for which we do not have a home field, despite having only a couple of club sports, we all travel for it. We never play that game.
As already mentioned, the EIS and required public process refers to subject matter experts for which we have served as such in many, many years working with Scala at Parks and Recreation
In contrast, we want to address the mischaracterization of friends with elbows and stance in SPS' documents as part 9, and that we said none of these projects will work by digital admission
This is
Far from, what we have done and the many, many hours of effort put forth by board members and advisors, and their consultant suggested option B was unlikely to make Oxon
I can only imagine what other mischaracterization of public input is contained in that document.
One is not mitigate removal of trees in forested areas. There will be ripple effects beyond the borders of this field
It would be important to continue evaluation of option A to confirm on site and be certain rather than need to be other measurements can be accommodated without harming others or trees. Our on-site measurements indicate this might be possible
And we would like to continue to be engaged
It dramatically changes the character of heart to play. And this board needs to be said
Sarah, and
Commissioners thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Sarah Campbell, I'm the head of coach's crazy fires being cross-country team has trained repeated immersive art since 19th
Each year, we serve over 200 athletes aged 7 to 14, introducing new runners to the sport
I want to begin by acknowledging the need for Lincoln High School to have access to a field. Youth athletics matter
The proposal to build these fields in the gravel lot of activities that have significant negative consequences for the entire cross-country community in Seattle
Woodland Park is not just another green space. It is the only centrally located park in Seattle large enough to support a full 5K pass. That means it's irreplaceable.
Are we sitting first, established in 1989, is one of the oldest continuously used cross-country courses in the region. Woodland Park also hosts Metro League high school meets, including Metro Championships and Sean District Championships
CYO you've made
college numbers and USATF meetings. This park is used by thousands of runners every fall and is a cornerstone of Seattle's running community
Around a lot of 15th, it's not just a parking area, it's a primary access point across two practices and needs.
Removing it would eliminate essential parking and force all traffic into the picnic lane. This would create major safety concerns as the course crosses the picnic loop multiple times during both practices and needs.
Introducing heavy traffic into an area where children are actively running is simply unsafe
Soccer and football of all sports, just like cross-country, increased usage to direct overlap with ours, creating unavoidable conflicts.
There are alternatives. Seattle already has many existing fields and many potential sites, pretty much, but there is only one with Lim Park.
Building an excuse field in this specific location would displace a decades-old running community to eliminate historic force and remove the only 745K venue available to youth and high school athletes.
This is not a matter of choice choosing one sport over another, it's about recognizing that some spaces serve unique, irreplaceable purposes
Within ParkScroll, it's Seattle's Press Commission cannot be overstated
Thank you. Yeah.
Edwards
And next up is going to be Eric
My name is Susan Pedor, and I'm both daughter and mother of Allen High School graduates.
I got around 1600 Navy training runs within the park on a really hot day, some of the kids get hit with feeding
And that was 8 years ago. Since then, our city's gotten noticeably hotter and drier, the option to be with the largest number of trees that far.
Under the column citing adverse impact to other users, there's no mention of increasing air pollution
Stormwater mitigation, loss of conservation
Respirations, the often overly characteristic of trees organized, but think about being outside on a hot day, think about there's a heightened cooling sensation
One mature Big Leaf Maple releases hundreds of gallons of water vapor on one hot day. One mature conifer releases upwards of 100 gallons per day. To remove this element from our atmosphere, it doesn't just impact people, but also the surrounding vegetation
Small replacement trees for non-tree replacement require a lot more water in the first few years.
Given our worsening heat and drought conditions means a lower likelihood of survival. At this juncture of the climate crisis, decisions made today will determine how uncomfortable our future will become.
And we'll, like, always be happy to approve school edges occasionally and permanently process to help a better future for our kids, and by extension, everyone in the community.
Option B does not achieve that, because by far loses on a myriad of levels
fine-tuned as a category in a faster-paced scientists have predicted at a major level of science is uncertainty
Please consider a future board
Eric will be asked
And that's
On behalf of 300 people that asked for sign a lot of things
Bring me to this location.
Principle that forward a design that will take our fewer than 20 years offshore evergreen standards
It requires certain compromises in the design, and that's what we hope you will focus on
But whether there should be and it can be limited
First issue is whether we need parking at the driver passes to the school
You simply go to the field, leverage
Adding pads to the pickup group is not necessary to have parking and accessibility. Dozens of trees.
The second issue is the width, which is going to involve another dozen trees
We see adequate and successful option A. It should be adequate and acceptable for option B as well. If you orient the fuel correctly, eliminate added parking
And leveraged 170 parts cost effectively takes out 16 trees and is all barked evergreens in place.
Alex
I'm a proud
in 1987.
And during those years, Garfield did not have a dedicated field. We actually practiced here at Miller on Cintress
They have nothing to do with the suggested hardship or inconvenience of traveling to other sports fields to play my games or practices
I really urge you to reconsider the proposal that would remove some of the mature, healthy trees to build this new athletic field. I'm learning a lot about the alternative proposals, and I think there's still things that should be on the table with option A
These trees and the ecosystem services they provide are effectively irreplaceable, even if replacement trees are planted, as many mentioned
Gary's gonna provide the same shade, wildlife habitat, pulling the carbon storage. And the more we highlight our criminal guarantee they will
Research on urban peak islands is clear. Replacing a mature tree canopy with synthetic turf will increase heat in this neighborhood at a time when cities should be invested in cooler, greener public spaces.
These trees are also valuable to many people beyond athletes. They are a part of the daily experience of students, neighbors, runners, artists, children, and everyone who finds beauty, refuge, and connection in this place.
They're also… they also support countless birds, insects, and wildlife.
Most importantly, this is an opportunity for our public institutions to align our actions with our values. The land acknowledgement that was read tonight, and that every institution in Seattle leads with some
Intention, fidelity, speak to carry this land for future generations.
I think this is a moment to align those words with our needs and actions and decisions.
I must admit, I thought it was gonna be the last month, but thank you. So I am the head football coach for Hamilton. There is someone besides Molly talking for Hamilton
I have been, you know, reinventing what I was gonna say, because everyone here speaks so well, including those who are advocating for the trees, which I'm sure we all love. So this is like I appreciate your work, Commissioners. I don't envy it
All I'm asking is to find a way to get this done. By some of the comments I've seen on social media, some of the things I've heard today, you would be thinking that we're proposing to build coal processing plant or something
Right?
You know, guess, I don't know if there's a way to save all the trees. If there is, please do that one, and not do another one that mitigates the least amount of trees, but just please fill the field, right? We need it, our students need it. I have to walk students all the way from Hamil
have the risk of getting, you know, talking about 6th graders that are still learning their bearings
We need a field right? And it's not just for the students, the community. They also coach club soccer. We're always tied on fields there. So find a way. I know there's space
I'm sorry, like, I really hope that there's a way that Noche will have impacted, but if there's a few trees, I'm sure the community will find a way to make it up to them. We can be creative, we can find other ways to provide a positive environmental impact and still build a feeling. Thank you for your patience
Thank you all. It's one of the truth, I still love you, with my neighbors, all good
Greetings, Commissioners and everyone here tonight. Cannon
And, here are my thoughts. We already paid everybody to put the parking lot that was put in the 1980s remodel for the previous field was paid over and now this proposal
I really do want the students to be happy and to thrive and not have such stretched schedules. They absolutely have that right. Removing our apartment at a minimum PhD trees and wildlife is not the answer.
We actually haven't seen it during the toilets, so that was a bit of a guesstimate on our end.
And it doesn't mean I can count from the neighborhoods
We all can recall how to speak, and certainly have had it in this room
The latest hourly from nowhere's climate vacation dispenser shows us Seattle will end up with more of a summer
If this project moves forward, we are teaching children and killing trees, birds, wildlife, destroying nature, and denying climate change is okay
Note, there is a bill on the table. City Council 1215 that removes the is not that straightforward to that step
The proposal drastically degrades the park. Will it still be called Woodland Park?
While the proposal potentially addresses the sports code issue with permanent impact is irreversible and damages the well-being and health of all our residents
Please make a difficult decision to find a different locale, smaller footprint, and protect our environment and health for generations.
Okay.
Happy and followed by that.
And so the next time you come up here. My name is Mark Holman. I'm also a coach. Don't worry, this didn't happen during practice.
So why am I speaking? I'm a new coach, this is my first year doing it, and I just wanted to
give you a window into what I've seen, the impact that after-school activities, especially athletics, have on the kids. I've seen kids
Absolutely transformed by these activities. And there's such large debates going on here tonight that I just wanted to ask you to focus on
the impact that this can have on kids and what it helps these kids respect in terms of themselves
in their school, in their city, in civics and engagement, and it's it's so much more than playing sports.
And as a small team, we're a small debate team. I also wanted to encourage you, during the review process, please keep in mind all response, all the requirements
Because, the pride these students have in these activities is tremendous, and to give them a supportive environment where they can have these activities is a tremendous value. So thank you very much for all the experience.
watch Seattle summer turn.
I'm glad to… glad to hear that you
are going to address mitigation and treat concerns
And this one
I do not
He must ensure an exceptional treats
Yeah.
And best protectors from
Game of Thrones, platforms
And
understand it's critical to build
feel in such a manner that will protect and serve our urban foreign
improve our ecosystem that decrease climate risks
Hundreds of you all take on your spot
Thank you.
Followed by
Thank you. My name is Beth Watson. I'm a longtime Seattle resident.
I am also concerned about traits may impact on potential removal of mature
healthy, native Seattle trees that are really the legacy of this city. We're the emerald city, and I feel the mountains that title
These are mature trees that provide habitat below ground and above ground
These are trees that mitigate climate change, as has been described before in improve air quality
These are also trees that we know improve the mental well-being when you are around them. So I want to recognize and acknowledge the mental health benefits of exercise and participating in sports
But there are also mental health
and well-being benefits of being in the presence of these mature, healthy treaties
These mature trees also support the forest around them through the complex mycorrhizal system underneath the ground that we're learning about. And so it's not so easy just to remove these trees and expect yellow trees to grow, because you
This underground support for these mature trees
Finally, you need tree removal really means the city of Seattle is at odds with the Seattle Comprehensive Plan of just last year to increase Seattle tree canopy, so any trees can cut down
Thank you
Hello, my name is Anne. 30 years that I've been involved in our system
Either a community member and or a parts department. I believe this is one of the most important decisions have been asked to make
The recommendation will further change about diversity, and interface.
The lack of sites
specific information provided in a screenshot.
Or users need to be… are needed for the park Commissioners to acknowledge
The EIS process is designed primarily committed by mitigation
Especially if only one option. More on-site specific details, feasibility evaluations, their experience
continuing to evaluate options provides potential alternatives
Assumptions have been built into the project today.
The school district mission is to build athletic field, not to protect resources
process needs to look at the parking, determine how to best developments.
The school district also needs to demonstrate the budget action bill and maintain a project that meets those needs. At this point, the arts department is moving
This is not acceptable for such a major
You are the public stewards of our park system.
Not just in the blessing
Hey everybody, thanks for listening. I had school age kids
And I also work for Seattle Public Schools. I'm out there during the hot recess times, and I'm also speaking as a community member because I see
That our parks are for the people of our city, and there are a lot of other people that use
And I believe that our kids should be able to move the way they want to move
But what I have seen working in the school, and I saw it this year when we had some very hot days before school got out, is that we had to bring our kids in from recess
And it wasn't like it was full in the room, but we had to stop them from moving so much. One kid almost passed out, and we had to have them sit and play, you know, at the table with their hands because it was hot
it was… there was no shade. There were trees that had been cut down on the playground and had not been replaced, so I don't trust the other public schools and stewardship of trees, because I'm always trying to stand under 100 recess.
But the point is that when our kids, a lot of us have kids when they have kids, those kids are going to be asking
Why? Why can't I go outside and play more? I'm already seeing it at school, so I would like you to explore the overall impact of what people have said
Thank you very much.
Thank you for
Actually, yes, thank you for everyone for commenting, and especially appreciate the respect everyone showed to each other for both time and the diversity of comments, perspectives. Really appreciate that. So as the board, thank you for that
Just next steps on
Yeah, that's what we're next steps on this, please, if you have additional comments, or anyone else interested in coming, you submit written comments. We will get them all. Distributed regularly to us as board members, and then we will take this
issue up, I believe, in our next August 13th, our next regularly scheduled meeting
which is here again, because we're doing some improvements to our tech at our Dexter location. Okay, I didn't here again on August. All right. Thank you, and we'll have a briefing discussion and possible vote
At that time. Thank you all for coming this evening and sitting in a hot room.