To the editor:

I’m writing this letter to raise awareness in Lawrence about the current plan to convert the Lawrence High School practice field to a competition field and to add 400 parking spaces to the school. As a Centennial Neighborhood homeowner and association member, I am concerned that too much noise, too much lighting, and too much traffic at late-night games could disrupt my baby’s sleep as well as that of my neighbors, some of whom have lived in their homes for over 50 years. We are also concerned that inadequate drainage will lead to sewage back up and flooded basements in an already wet area, which in turn could cause serious damage to some homes that back up to the field.

The community should not only be concerned about the impact on Centennial and University Place neighborhood residents. The safety of the proposed artificial turf has been questioned by Centers for Disease Control, and some cities ban its use. Does artificial turf lead to dehydration, as temperatures can reach 160 degrees? Why is the school district moving to artificial turf when universities and pro football teams are tearing up their artificial turf and replacing it with grass? Finally, the plans do not meet some zoning requirements such as the number of parking spots required for this size

These issues could impact every member of the community and will be discussed at the Lawrence-Douglas Country Metropolitan Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. today on the first floor of City Hall.

Courtney Sullivan,
Lawrence