Dear Members of the City Council,

I have been following your discussions regarding field space for our
youth sports programs over the past few years and understand the
Council may have the opportunity to work in conjunction with the
School Board and Superintendent of Schools in the development of
fields at the soon-to-be renovated school sites in our community. I
understand that artificial surfaces are being considered and that
there has been some concern over that possibility expressed to the
Council.

As a father of two children in Menlo Park public schools (one at
Laurel and the other at Encinal) and a soccer coach at Stanford I
have a great interest in this topic. I have been involved in field
development for many years, both natural and artificial surfaces at
Stanford and in other part of the country. I work regularly at
Stanford with Assistant Athletic Director Dave Schinski who is an
expert in field development, having taken the lead on many field
projects including the artificial fields on the corner of El Camino
and Page Mill for Stanford and the City of Palo Alto.

If we can help to clarify the positives and negatives of natural and
artificial playing surfaces, we would be glad to do so. The
technology in the area of artificial fields continues to change
quickly. Dave and I believe it merits serious consideration given
the shortage of field space in Menlo Park.

Sincerely,

Bret Simon
1175 Laurel St.

-- 
Bret Simon
Men's Soccer Coach
Stanford University