Community Divided Around New Cougar Field Lights and Sound
Albany Unified School District superintendent Dr. William Wong held a meeting Thursday, November 30, to hear the differing viewpoints about the Cougar Field Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
The closest Cougar Field neighbors live in the Behrens St. area of El Cerrito; many are outraged with the plans to add lights and a new sound system to Cougar Field, fearing that these improvements will make it difficult to enjoy evenings outside or put their children to bed. They are upset that they had no chance to vote on Measure A, the November ballot measure that authorized the Cougar Field improvements.
The hearing started tensely, as Wong called the meeting to order and announced the rules. He sat calmly throughout the hearing, which centered around the issues of field lights on the baseball and football/soccer fields and the noise that nighttime games could cause; all parties generally agreed that the changing rooms, new bathrooms, custodian’s building, artificial turf and artificial track were okay.
The biggest concern for many speakers from El Cerrito was that they had not had the chance to vote on the issue as Albany voters had, and there had been no open debate of the proposals. Even Thursday’s meeting was not a debate. El Cerrito residents such as Michael Gardner felt that this was a case in which Albany said, “We can export the costs and we’ll reap the benefits.”
The first round of speakers came from the Behrens Neighborhood Association, including a Mr. Finnegar, who denounced the “ego desire” to have Friday night games. Critics of evening games say that these games would need more police coverage (which is not available) and disturb the neighbors, only to boost the egos of the school administrators and football players.
Finnegar was also one of many to question the accuracy of the EIR, citing many instances in which it was inconsistent or made little sense. “The EIR gets a D- as far as common sense,” said Finnegar.
Anne Leeman of the Behrens Neighborhood Association outright threatened a lawsuit if the lights and sound system were built, even if the school board also paid for certain mitigations, such as black-out curtains and landscaping.
“Grandstand? Okay. New changing rooms? Okay. Snack bar? We’d like to move it a little, but we’re okay with that…” But the lights and evening games? “Not gonna fly,” she stated. Leeman refers to moving the snack bar to the side of Cougar Field near the BART tracks, rather than bordering the residential area.
She is also convinced that she will win the lawsuit as, “educational needs overcome significant impacts, but sporting enthusiasm doesn’t.”
Students, parents, and coaches were eager to point out that the main concern is student safety and well-being—not sporting enthusiasm.
Albany parent Jeff Shea presented a calm and structured argument for the lights, noting that the lights would allow “more efficiently run practices,” and that students could stay in class during seventh period and run practice into the evenings.
“We hope that we can play with lights, maybe not bright lights, but lights bright enough that we can see what we’re doing,” said freshman soccer player Amy Hershberger softly.
Senior and boys varsity soccer team captain Tyler Zupan outlined the problems with the current situation. “We have four teams playing on our field,” he said, “and there is not enough time for everyone to play and practice.”
Boys varsity soccer coach Katamba Douglas restated the athletes’ and parents’ concerns, saying, “We are essentially ending our games in the dark.”
Several football team reps presented their views. Coach Shevelson nailed down the days that the football game would actually have “Friday night lights” to five. “It’s not 300 days; it’s not an ego thing,” he said.
Football player Lamont Jackson expressed his sadness that his parents can’t attend his games because they work during the day. “You look in the stands and you don’t see your parents and you feel kind of bad.”
“The biggest environmental impacts are what we are doing to each other,” said one man, bringing a touch of family therapy into the hearing.
An older man, and longtime jogger of Cougar Field, said that as much as he loves Cougar Field, “I think the lights would be an injury to every person…It would be equivalent to every board member going to every neighbor’s door and ringing the doorbell and slapping each one on the face.” He also raised concerns about the possibility of a custodian’s residence on the field, saying that “this could be a place for someone who deals drugs, and someone who deals drugs to teens.”
Ron Nirin, a Behrens resident, had a creative solution to the conflict. “I’d like to propose a housing swap,” he said, “meet me in the Northeast corner of the gym. I’ll be waiting over there. We can work something out.” He then proceeded to walk over to that corner of the gym, followed only by air. A few minutes later two students, including Hershberger, walked over to talk to him.
Throughout the whole hearing, Wong sat impassively, even as the Behrens and Athletics groups, self-segregated to different sides of the bleachers, clapped and cheered for their own speakers.
Behrens resident Pearson Miller pointed out that, “There’s no chance to debate the merits of the project.” “Let’s have that dialogue,” he said.
Dr. Wong will accept written comments about the EIR through December 18, 2006, some time after which he will make his final recommendation to the board.
You can write Dr. Wong at:
Dr. William Wong
Albany Unified School District
904 Talbot Ave
Albany, CA 94706
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About this Story
- By Emily Pichler
- Posted December 19, 2006
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2:15 PM on December 19th, 2006Robb:
They need lights. They also need a better sound system So i can announce.
7:43 AM on December 20th, 2006alex:
they better have this up by next year so we can play on it! screw the neighbors! suport ur town teams!
12:48 PM on December 20th, 2006ncschamps:
they should put a softball field how come we get stuck on the boys little league field its not fair
2:16 PM on December 21st, 2006Al Baker XC & T&F:
Track and Field has run meets at Cougar that have run into darkness which is a safety issue. I feel that if the lights were on during the early evening hour (5-7:30 pm), if should not affect anyone. As far as the sound system goes we should compromise and sacrfice sound and they should agree to let us have the lights with certain restrictions.
2:23 PM on December 21st, 2006Count Fairness:
The girls (NCS Champs) should at least be able to share the new field for their home games. The field belongs to the district not some ego-maniac coach.
11:09 PM on December 23rd, 2006Jimmy:
Why cant we just run track indoors????
6:08 PM on December 30th, 2006Anonymous:
“Robb:
They need lights. They also need a better sound system So i can announce. ”
Sports announcers usually have experience in the sport, such as being a former player,coach,etc and/or a pleasant voice.
Good luck with both of those.
11:25 PM on December 30th, 2006Robb:
analysts ususally have experience . Not play by play announcers or PA announcers, which are the two things I want to be . Get your facts straight.
I use to play basketball, and baseball in leagues as well.
I know sports as well.
Got him coach!
11:40 PM on December 30th, 2006hey anonymous:
isn’t high school where you GET the experience you need? most people get it in college even, so i’d say robb’s a step ahead of the game.
12:51 AM on January 1st, 2007rashad:
UNNNNGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
10:02 AM on January 11th, 2007Jondavid:
if only we were under the fridaynight lights…
the Cougars are on there own 15 yard line. with 1:06 left in the game. score 28-28. Colby drops back quick pass to Phil for a 10 yeard gain and a 1st down. 25 yard line 59sec left. Colby again drops back fires a quick dig to miles that gets hit down by the FS. 2nd down 55sec left. quick toss to E-boggie, who breaks a dude and gets hit at the 49 yard line. 26 yards on the play, 40sec left, time out called. which is their last. 1st and 10 on the 49 yard line. Colby To Brown for a 5 yard pass. colby gets every one to the line. Spikes the ball. 32 sec left. 3nd and 5. colby drops back play fake to E-boggie. happy feet, takes off. picks up 1st down. ball on 37 yard line. 23 sec left. Colby drops back he wants to go for the boom. Miles deep. HES GOT IT at the 15 yard line. hes still up with 10 secs left. he throws it back to e-boggie. e to the 20-10-5 TOUCHDOWN COUGARS!!! this cant be TRUE!! OMG albany HAs just Won NCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive never see such a thing!!! WOW
10:28 AM on January 11th, 2007A person:
Lights would be great cuz i know i would totally go to night games and the nieghbors need to get over it and its only for a couple and its not even that loud at our games so STOP COMPLAINING!!! and let us teens have our lights!
2:33 PM on January 18th, 2007emily:
hey, if you have opinions go share them at the school board meeting on feb 17th in the morning. Is it important enough to you to get up early to voice your opinion? awesome.
If you dont care enough to say something when it counts, then we’ll just have to see what happens and deal with it.
On the other hand, if you lived RIGHT next to the lights would you want late evening games? What if you had kids? Just things to think about.
1:32 PM on January 21st, 2007Put in lights:
its crucial!