Move ahead with Magnuson plan

Sunday, April 11, 2004

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

Seattle must move forward with the long-promised athletic fields at Sand Point Magnuson Park.

The Seattle City Council appears ready to make critical decisions supporting at least part of a well-considered plan for 15 fields. Although even the full plan won't erase the dramatic shortfall in fields, a rapid start on early phases of development would help.

As money becomes available for all the fields in years to come, Sand Point Magnuson can become the genuinely multiple purpose, regional facility long promised to Seattle residents.

On April 21, the council will hold a public hearing on the development plan. Expect heated debate on an issue in which the need for healthy recreation has run into overwrought concerns, including complaints that lights could spoil views in Kirkland, across Lake Washington.

David Della, chairman of the council's parks committee, hopes to move legislation to the full council in May. The council newcomer, who has already drawn praise for his careful exploration of the issue, believes there is room for compromises to address concerns about lights, wetlands and wildlife. But he emphasizes that the city must act.

He's right on both points. The current plan envisions lighting some of the fields as late as 11 p.m., which would maximize use but may not be necessary. A parks board vote last year actually favored a 10 p.m. shutoff. But compromise has to be reasonable, especially when the nearby View Ridge area has a well-established record of treating any change in the park as a matter of the sky falling. A 9 p.m. lighting shutoff, for instance, would need a lot of justification and other accommodations for the thousands of people poorly served by the city's inadequate fields.

Fully built, synthetic turf and natural grass fields would cover only 37 of the park's more than 350 acres. They would add reasonable new options for healthy recreation by adults and children.

At a time of expanding waistlines and increasing population density, developing the fields is a vital city interest. Acting quickly will contribute to creating a healthy balance in a park whose spaces easily can provide for many more people.

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