Magnuson Park complex gets approval

By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The council's unanimous vote calls for seven new lighted athletic fields at the park and ends months of emotional debate that pitted sports enthusiasts, who wanted more fields, against Sand Point-area residents, who argued the fields would bring unwanted traffic, noise and glare to their neighborhood.

In the end, the council opted to shrink a proposal by Mayor Greg Nickels and the Parks Department, which recommended 11 lighted fields. The council also reduced the hours that illuminated fields would be used, saying that lights should be shut off at 10 p.m. with no lights on Sunday evenings. Nickels had proposed leaving the lights on until 11 p.m.

Councilwoman Jean Godden, a Sand Point resident, had called the mayor's proposal a "complex from hell."

The council's version calls for seven lighted synthetic-turf fields and possibly two additional unlit synthetic fields. Four more grass fields will be carved out of the park's existing "sports meadow." A wetlands area also will be built in the park under the council plan.

While voting, council members expressed relief at getting the rancorous issue off their agenda. Citizens had flooded council offices with thousands of calls, letters and e-mails in recent months. A recent public hearing brought more than 500 citizens to City Hall.

Council members heaped praise on colleague David Della for brokering a compromise.

"Talk about a no-win situation," said Councilman Richard Conlin. The deal seemed to disappoint both sports enthusiasts and neighborhood residents, and Conlin said he wondered whether Della understood what he was getting into when he asked to become the parks-committee chairman shortly after his election last year.

"I think he's done a masterful job as a rookie council member in finding that balance, that compromise," added Council President Jan Drago.

"This is truly an issue of deep concern in our city."

It is possible under the council's plan that fewer than seven lighted fields would be constructed. The city so far has about $12 million set aside for the complete project, which is enough to build three or four of the athletic fields, the sports meadow and some environmentally sensitive wetlands. The entire complex is projected to cost about $60 million.
 
Further wetlands work and additional fields will be contingent on funding and council review of the impacts resulting from the initial phases of development.

"At that time we can measure impact of the lights and activity levels on the park and the neighborhood," said Councilman Peter Steinbrueck.

The Magnuson Park property in Northeast Seattle was handed over to the city in 1991 when the Navy decommissioned its base at that location. The city is expected to start construction on the Magnuson complex this summer.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com