Ray Park Softball

From the Burlingame Daily News-San Mateo County Times

Softball group wants to play in park

Residents concerned about noise and traffic

By Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer

Burlingame Girls Softball officials say they are worried their proposal to play and practice at Ray Park on Sundays won't be a hit with the city and the park's neighbors.

The league needs the three fields at Ray Park, near Devereaux Drive and Mills Creek, on Sundays to make up rained-out Saturday games and to add a batting cage for the league's 350 players, said Gary Bell, an assistant coach with the league.

"Residents are concerned with the noise," Parks and Recreation Director Randy Schwartz said. "The parks and recreation commission over the past 10-plus years has held several meetings between the residents and Girls Softball to lessen the impacts on the neighborhood."

The Burlingame Parks and Recreation Commission plans to study the issue by watching a team workout at Ray Park on Dec. 2 and measuring the noise with a decibel meter. The commission could discuss the matter at its Jan. 20 meeting or call a special meeting before then, Schwartz said.

Residents are also concerned about traffic congestion from practices and games, and they have indicated they would like at least one day a week on which the fields aren't used, Schwartz said. League officials previously agreed not to play or practice at the park on Sundays.

League officials said they have taken steps to minimize the impact on residents and plan on expanding their efforts.

"The batting cage would have a pitching machine that uses a rubberized softball that is hit into a net," Bell said. "The only noise is the bat contact with the ball."

Girls Softball has already added padding to the backstops at Ray Park to reduce noise, Bell added.

Bell said he thinks it is unfair that the girls cannot use Ray Park on Sundays, when boys baseball has access to other fields.

City officials said they have received e-mails, phone calls and other correspondence from people who are in favor of and against letting the girls use Ray Park on Sundays.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner and former league president Joe LaMariana said letting the girls use the field for practice would not be a year-round issue, since it would only be in use between early March and early August. The league needs another batting cage, he noted.

LaMariana said he has not made up his mind whether the girls should be allowed to use Ray Park on Sundays.

"I think it is a public space, and I think they have the right to use the space," he said, "but I think we have a challenge in balancing the needs of the neighborhood as well."

- Written by Joe

Comments

[Carole]

When people buy homes near parks they understand what happens there. Why all of a sudden its too noisy. These kids are begging for things to do and get turned away constantly. Everyone complains about gangs but are not willing to cooperate with activities that keep kids out of trouble.

[Myles]

They can use wooden bats instead of metal and can use a softer ball that lowers the sound. Hitting in a batting cage is not about how far you hit the ball. It is to help your hand eye coordination and your timing.

It's a park, and last time I checked, they're designed for people of all ages to play and have fun. Sure, the traffic can be bad, but just like around the many schools with traffic issues, we all just deal with it - a small price to pay to live in this wonderful town (and I live near Ray Park and can certainly hear the noise from the school kids and ball players). I doubt any of the complainers were forced to buy into these areas of Burlingame, and I'm sure it wasn't a complete secret that a park with sport fields or a school was nearby when you bought. C'mon, find something else to complain about. It's a park for crying out loud - I say "play ball!"

To leave the parks idle during the day because of noise is just silly. It is not auto racing or motocross, it is softball. How loud can it be?

Why not shut down El Camino for the same reason? Or the airport, train, etc. When we buy a house next to a school, airport, train, we should understand that there is noise. Let the kids play!

[fred]

The parks are meant for the children. This is as silly as the Belmont/Notre Dame problem.

People choose where they live. People buy next to the freeway because it is cheaper due to the noise. People buy next to a park because they want their children to play in the park. But it is common knowledge that parks are public places to be shared and utilized by ALL members of the community. This and the Belmont problem are just a new form of land grab and it's crappy to take it out on the kids. Same root problem as a plaza at the train station.

"It's for us to enjoy not for them to use."

Now if we're talking about banning children from playing in the freeway, I'm all for that. Priorities, people, priorities.