Superintendent Shuldiner Makes a Decision on Lincoln High School Field

 Update:

The Seattle Times had an article on this topic and the comments were interesting. Here are the main takeaways:

- Shuldiner comes off very well to many people. Examples:

• This new leader is great.
• Ben Shuldiner is actually listening and fixing Seattle Public Schools! Thank you!
• Thank you Shuldiner, a breath of fresh air in Seattle's landscape. 
• If the SPS project team had done community outreach 4 years ago then this location would have been chosen 4 years ago. The real problem here was the failure to communicate with the public, and Ben Shuldiner fixed that!

- Some doubt it will happen anytime soon (and, after Parks and Rec approval and EIS. I personally think it could get done in two years after approvals.

- Some harangue or praise the Wallingford neighborhood for not allowing it next the school (as well as Hamilton IMS).

• The neighbors against it are more worried about themselves then they are the kids who need to facilities.
• So was the abandonment of the Wallingford playfield option that was literally right next door.
• They initially wanted Wallingford Park. It was all the football parents pushing for it. The community stepped up and Wallingford Park was saved.

Some are worried about the trees that may come down:

• What is it about healthy standing wood that bothers so many people in power in this city?
• Our city and it's (sic) children need trees more than athletic fields.
• So private property, parks and street planting strips are all losing trees while Seattle gets hotter and more polluted. I'm standing up for trees no matter where they grow. We need all of them.

And some are mad that Lincoln even exists:

• Lincoln HS is a sentimental legacy; an unaffordable institution that is importing increasing numbers of students from outside it's traditional service area, in the unrealistic hope that keeping it open will attract more families to a place where other than the most affluent can afford to live.
• And there are many Seattle public high schools that have open enrollment they didn’t need to put in another high school.
• I don’t know what the percentages of Lincoln students that live in the neighborhood and walk but the entire eight blocks surrounding Lincoln high school is jam packed with student cars. 
• Or perhaps they could’ve located the largest high school in the Seattle Public schools in a different location.
• Can't we just reserve Lincoln High for bookish, un-athletic students?
• No other high school in Seattle has 2 fields. All have a track around their field to save space. Why does this one school need a separate field plus a track somewhere else? 
• Why would SPS pick Lincoln to put the largest high school in the district next to the largest middle school with NEITHER having athletic fields ? Lincoln has ZERO student parking and Hamilton has zero staff parking. (To which I say NO high school has an obligation to provide student parking.)

Interesting thoughts.

end of update

This announcement came at Lincoln High School yesterday.

“After many years of conversation about this, it was clear when I arrived as superintendent four months ago that it is time to act,” he said. 

He told assembled students that SPS is asking Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) to partner on design and development a full-size, multi-sport athletic field at N. 50th Street and Aurora Avenue North in Woodland Park. 

The request is based on the concept presented as Option B on April 25 with refinements to possible field orientation in response to community feedback.

“I am also asking that we proceed with the planned renovation of the track a Lower Woodland Field #7,” he added. 

He acknowledged that there are still decisions to be made, including how to best orient the field on the site to reduce impacts to tree and surrounding areas of the park. The next steps after SPR agreement will be to begin the design, environmental review, and permitting process. The project will require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed action. 

One of the most important parts of the design process will be determining the best orientation for the field within the site with the goal of reducing impacts on tree canopy and surrounding natural areas. We heard that feedback clearly, and it will guide our work.

The process will also include planning to support tree canopy and the forest floor, a traffic and parking study, ADA compliance, and an environmental impact statement that will include public comment. We’ll also be looking carefully at impacts to cross-country and cyclocross use of the area.

As well,

This option is the right one for Lincoln students because it:

- Expands access by adding a new full-size athletic field available for both Lincoln and the broader community

- Meets program needs for soccer, football, Ultimate Frisbee, and lacrosse without displacing other users.

- Minimizes disruption at Lower Woodland to focus on what’s needed for the track upgrade

- Preserves capacity by avoiding overcrowding at Lower Woodland

We still have work to do in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

I don't love this location because I have concerns about parking. As well, I wonder what the neighborhood will say. Plus, they say they need some area for equipment storage and where will that be? 

But as Shuldiner says, he had to make a decision.