The 2001-2002 Joint Athletic Facilities Development Program (JAFDP) will govern how public Park and School fields will be developed (i.e., synthetically turfed and lighted) in Seattle.

In their plan, Parks recommends converting more grass fields to synthetic turf. - Because synthetic fields can be scheduled continuously by paying leagues, however, neighbors lose access to pubic open space in their own neighborhoods while bearing all the burdens of increased noise, traffic, and parking congestion as usage of fields increases.

Parks also recommends installing fieldlights on all synthetic playfield surfaces (see, pages 7 & 13 of the plan) and using fields until 11 pm every night. - This unbalanced approach will leave neighbors with no down time of their own.

A better goal would be to light or synthetically turf fields, but not necessarily both, depending on neighborhood sentiment. - To date, however, few neighborhoods have had any say in how fields will be developed in their neighborhoods.