Seattle Residents for Fair Field Lighting
"Fields For All - Not Just Some"

1. To increase field capacity, acquire more fields; do a better job of maintaining grass fields; use synthetic turf or lights, not necessarily both, depending on neighborhood sentiment (see p. 7 & p. 13 of the JAFDP where Parks recommends lighting all synthetically turfed fields).
2. The 2001-2002Joint Athletic Facilities Development Program and Parks’ 2001 Ballfield Lighting Study should clearly state that Parks and Schools promote the principles of (1) Lighting for Exterior Environments, the recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and (2) Best Lighting Practices put forth by Seattle Residents for Fair Field Lighting (www.scn.org/fieldlights/GoodLightingPolicy). This should be stated on p. 13 of the JAFDP.
3. On page 16, under "Lighting Spill and Glare" add: "Prior to seeking levy funds to develop fields, Parks and Schools will work with all affected stakeholders of fields, especially adversely affected neighbors, to determine the most neighborhood-friendly lighting criteria, field design, and effective lighting shut-off systems."
4. On page 16, add new section "Pedestrian and Traffic Safety," add: "Parks and Schools will work to ensure that levy funds are adequate to build or upgrade sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic circles, off-street parking, and other safety enhancements to ensure pedestrian and traffic safety in the vicinity of developed fields."
5. On page 17, under "Community Access to Unprogrammed Park Space," make the following change: As part of our public involvement process, the Department may consider providing scheduled community use of the field. and to ensure neighborhood access to local fields, Parks and Schools will set aside a percentage of after-school (3 pm), after-work (5 pm), and weekend time for non-scheduled, drop-in use.
6. On page 18, under "Be A Good Neighbor, Guiding Principle 1," make the following change: Follow the Department’s Public Involvement Policies in developing or redeveloping athletic facilities. Parks and Schools will work with neighbors within 1/8 to 1/2 mile of fields to determine the most neighborhood-friendly field design, lighting criteria, neighborhood safety upgrades, and hours of use and unscheduled neighborhood use.
7. On page 18, under "Be A Good Neighbor, Guiding Principle 2," make the following change: Minimize the potential impacts of field use on surrounding neighborhoods to the greatest extent possible given site considerations, resources, etc." Where site conditions prohibit field development, choose another site.
8. On page 19, add Guiding Principle 7: Do not light where lights may harm wildlife or wildlife habitat.
9. Throughout the document, wherever references to "the Department" and "Seattle Parks and Recreation" involve future policy regarding field development, replace references to Parks alone with references to both Parks and Schools.
10. Re-light currently lit fields before lighting new fields.

To read the JAFDP, go to: www.cityofseattle.net/parks/meetings/jafdp/jafdp.htm

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