<p>As a parent of a high school athlete, I am baffled by the push back on creating an athletic field for the youth on the Vineyard.</p>
As a parent of a high school football, basketball, and lacrosse player, I am baffled by the push back on creating an athletic field for the youth on the Vineyard. Why would we not all fully support the attempts of creating a safe, state-of-the-art plan? We have a few extremely dedicated community members that are donating their time, their expertise, and managing the entire project. Am I missing something here?
I understand the concern of turf fields. So instead of pushing forward with the original fill, the plan was changed to use organic fill (which increases the cost dramatically, but still no cost to us). The plan also includes grass fields, clubhouse and an athletic training room on the field.
In a time when the world is in such turmoil, why would we not all support a project that certainly will benefit our youth? Why would we not support people who are trying to do something wonderful for our Island community? Why would we not all say thank you?
Laura DeBettencourt
Oak Bluffs
Comments
I am going to offer you three
Pitch Perfect IslandI am going to offer you three perspectives that differ from that of the mother of a star athlete, and I hope it helps debaffle.
In my first role, I'll play the anti-government tea party ultra financial conservative. Here goes: It costs nothing NOW, but what will it cost in the future to tear this stuff out, and ship it off island, and replace it? They say eight years from now we have huge carpets of worthless plastic that will cost us all an arm and a leg to get rid of. And we will have to pay millions for more for this stuff. I want to see the numbers!
In my second role, I'll play the ultra liberal environmental hipster. Here goes: They said this stuff was safe but they already had to change plans when we figured out torn up tires killed kids by giving them cancer. These plastic turfs contain lead I heard. And it isn't why I moved here anyway, to be like some Walmart town. Mud and grass are why we moved. We left plastic behind.
In my third role, I'll play the somewhat but becoming more interested moderate. Here goes: This seemed like more noise, but my common sense is telling me to pay attention. When someone offers me a multimillion dollar "free" gift, and tells me I should appreciate it and not ask questions, I get nervous. NO PAYMENTS FOR THREE YEARS! A sucker born every second. They said the government in Oak Bluffs told them it didn't require a permit, but the government in Oak Bluffs says they haven't seen a thing and think it does require a permit. My common sense tells me these seemingly charitable folks might be lying to me. How could they object to a bit of due diligence? NO YOU WILL MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! Yes, I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night.
Thank you for reading my three responses. Let's get to the MVC. We all agree they over-reach. Local projects become developments of regional impact. You may scoff at their response to small projects, and want to cut their powers. Or you may feel the "small" projects add up to major change, and support the oversight. But nobody could argue that this Islandwide resource doesn't impact all Island towns. Every kid is going to use it. Should the MVC review it? Obviously. Unless you are an ultra conservative tea party type. In which case you should do the math and realize you are investing poorly in plastics.
It isn't baffling. It isn't even surprising. It is a group of powerful, possibly well meaning "little-league dads" coercing the tax payers. Anybody with any sense at all would ask for a closer look. Please try a bit harder to stand in another's shoes.
If you read my response here and disagree with the original author of Baffling, know this. In the end, this need not be decided by elected officials. You are not powerless. If the project managers put down turf and don't apply for a permit, file a complaint with the building inspector in Oak Bluffs. Tell him you think the project needs a site plan review. Read the zoning bylaws and explain why. If he enforces zoning, great. If he doesn't, file an appeal with the zoning board of appeals. That's what you do when the zoning enforcement officer doesn't agree with you. If they don't support you, take it to court. That's the path, and nobody can stop you. There are a lot of people who feel powerless here. It is a shame you need money and lawyers to fight this. You may, but a willingness may also be enough to get everyone to sit down and talk. And it wouldn't cost that much to shine a light on this project even with lawyers involved.
Thank you pitch perfect!! We
Pam Benjamin Vineyard HavenThank you pitch perfect!! We could not agree with you more on all fronts..great comment!
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