To the editor:

I write this letter as a concerned grandfather of three boys who participate in soccer, baseball and football. All practices and games are held at the Lawrence Youth Sports Complex located along Kansas Highway 10 at 4911 W. 27th St. I believe the park layout is extremely unsafe and may even violate state or federal access and egress requirements. Specifically, there is a single lane in and out of the complex. Vehicles enter the park from K-10, Wakarusa Drive and West 27th Street. The single-lane entrance is bounded by deep culverts and a creek bed. Vehicles are often grid locked. In the event of a medical, weather or police emergency, it is impossible for first responders to get in or out in an expeditious manner.

The facilities include eight baseball fields and 12 football fields and up to 1,200 vehicles are parked at any given time — many more for a fireworks event. Can you imagine the gridlock and rush to get out when the fireworks are over, or panic after a tornado or lightning warning? Furthermore, during each workday, traffic backs up about three-quarters of a mile going east from the entrance.

This safety issue is becoming more and more serious with the growth of the Lawrence community, and I am totally dismayed as to why no action has been taken by the City of Lawrence. I assure you that this not just a concern of mine but of many parents who have a child participating at this complex.

Bob Gens,

Charleston, S.C.