The following letter to the editor appeared in the January 2004 Kirkland Courier
Kirkland is famous for its beautiful, multicolor, sunsets reflecting off Lake Washington. Our parks and restaurants are full of people pausing to admire the final rays of the evening sun.
Savor that world-class view while you can because Seattle is planning to dramatically alter it. The Seattle Parks Department has approved a plan to install 640 thousand watt flood lights in Magnuson Park. The lights will brightly illuminate 11 Astroturf sports fields, a little over a mile straight across the Lake from downtown Kirkland. Magnuson Park will be hosting the regions’ largest sports tournaments as late as 11pm, year-round.
Is a waterfront park the right place for a late night sports complex? Since it will draw teams from throughout the region, wouldn’t a site closer to the freeway make more sense? Flood lights on 80 foot poles will be a bright and irritating blight on the natural beauty of Lake Washington.
Many say we need more sports fields – let’s either find a better location, or build this complex without the lights. A peninsula jutting into Lake Washington is the wrong place for hundreds of glaring flood lights!
The Seattle City Council may be voting on the Magnuson Park sports complex in January. If enough people contact Seattle and let them know the project is flawed, the natural beauty of Lake Washington can be preserved.
For more information, or to find out how you can help oppose this project, check out www.eastsidefriends.org The time is now!
Deborah Gandolfo, Kirkland