Dear Members of the Parks and Recreation Commission,
 
This e-mail is a follow-up to the correspondence we sent yesterday to your Commission and the Menlo City Council. Your proposals to the MPCSD to expand the playing fields at Encinal Elementary School from U-14 to U-19 soccer field dimensions seem to be setting up the fields to serve adults, not primarily children. This represents a huge change from the population that currently uses the Encinal Elementary School fields during non-school hours--primarily elementary school age children playing Little League T-ball and AYSO soccer. As such, the Commission’s proposals seem to be an awkward mix of trying to provide playing fields for adults in a setting that is essentially designed for the safety and use by children.
 
Since we are obviously having a hard time supporting your recommendations, would you help us better understand why the Commission supports paying for a U-19 adult soccer field with artificial turf at Encinal School? We also need to better understand the potential impact to surrounding homes. For example, how many soccer games other than AYSO do you anticipate being scheduled at Encinal? What types of teams are expected to reserve the field? Will out-of-town teams be allowed to reserve the fields? How many spectators are expected to attend? Will this be the only U-19 soccer field in Menlo Park? Where are the locations (and number) of U-19 soccer fields on the Peninsula? What are the proposed hours the fields will be available for organized sports on the Encinal School? What is the anticipated revenue to Menlo Park for Encinal School field usage? In sum, is this the best place to spend Menlo Park money to set up an adult soccer field and will these activities be compatible to
  the elementary school site?
 
Elizabeth Blois and Judy Font
Felton Gables, Menlo Park
 
Received on Thu Mar 29 16:28:02 2007