April 5, 2013 [3]
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BRIEFS
Finn Hill District ends tax The Finn Hill Park and Recreation District (FHPRD) handed over responsibility for operation and maintenance of O.O. Denny Park to the city of Kirkland on Monday. Park commissioners will continue to oversee the completion of several improvement projects that are already in the planning stage. More benches, barbecue grills, improved handicap access, restroom updates and a new children’s play area are all planned for the spring/ summer and will be paid for with rainy-day funds saved
by the District since its inception. The Finn Hill Parks and Recreation District notified the King County Clerk’s office last December that they would not need a continuation of the FHPRD levy for 2013 or beyond. The FHPRD levy had been in place since 2002 when it was enacted by a vote of district residents. The purpose of the levy was to operate and maintain O.O. Denny Park. Last November, Kirkland voters approved Proposition 2 that will provide needed additional funding for the operation and maintenance for all of Kirkland’s parks.
School District, continues to receive requests for volunteers to meet weekly with kids struggling in one or more subjects. Volunteers meet weekly with a student and provide academic and/ or social guidance to students needing extra support. Social mentors are also needed in the district’s elementary school Lunch
LWSD needs volunteers LINKS, a volunteer program of the Lake Washington
A sign on the fence at Lake Washington High School’s baseball field states that the field was closed on Jan. 4 due to hazardous conditions. Now, the Kangs’ teams are forced to practice elsewhere. MATT PHELPS, Kirkland Reporter field year-round. He noted the district invested in turf field for other schools in the district and Lake Washington was one of the few schools in the community that doesn’t have a turf field. However, Reith said the district’s only artificial turf field is at Eastlake High School, which the city of Sammamish paid for. “Grass is the standard for district baseball fields,” she said, noting artificial turf is much more expensive. Buddy Programs. Students are selected by their teacher, parent or principal as a child who would benefit from an encouraging and positive role model. Lunch buddies meet weekly during the child’s lunchtime to eat together, talk and play games. For information, contact Nanci Wehr at nwehr@lwsd.org or 425-9361410.
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Reith said the district plans to restore and upgrade the field in a two-phase project. The field’s last complete renovation was in 1986, she said. In May, the district will begin work on the first phase, outfield restoration. That will include removing existing grass, grading the area, upgrading the irrigation system and outfield seeding, said Reith. Work on the second phase is expected to begin in July and will include infield and
backstop area construction, excavation, irrigation, drainage upgrades and installation of a new infield. Reith said new fencing for the backstop area, new perimeter concrete, bullpens and batting cages are also part of the second phase. The district expects the field to be ready for use by February 2014, barring any setbacks, said Reith. The entire project will cost approximately $600,000 and be paid for with funds from the 2010 capital projects levy.
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“It’s been a miracle that there hasn’t been more kids injured on that field,” said Lyon. “The fact that it was condemned, it was a long time coming. It needed to be shut down. We’ve worked as parents to try and get [the field] up to even low standards.” He said he has witnessed kids sprain their ankles due to the condition of the field, and get hit in the face with baseballs because of the inadequate fencing. As a youth coach in the area, he said the Lake Washington High School baseball field is “by far the worst field” that he has seen. But both Osborn and Lyon said this issue also affects the entire community. In addition to various teams that use the baseball field, including the Kirkland Boys and Girls Club, residents also use the field for recreation. “The entire community is being shut out of the most visible asset it has,” noted Osborn. He spoke before the Lake Washington School Board on Monday night and called on district officials to “step up and make this right.” He urged the district to install turf field instead of replanting the grass, which could take up to two years. Lyon noted the community could use the turf
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they can find an available field, including Kirkland Middle School and as far as Marymoor Park in Redmond. “The parents are angry,” said Osborn, noting some parents have pooled their money and are considering a lawsuit against the district. “We want to know why we have to pay $275 for our kids to play baseball and we can’t use the field. We have to buy our own cleats and bats, so why the hell don’t they have a field? It’s a complete and total nightmare.” Osborn is one of the parents who have personally helped to maintain the field over the years. In the past, parents set up a rotating schedule to water the field. They even got a permit from the water district one year to attach 300 feet of water hoses to a fire hydrant to create a water sprinkler, Osborn said. Osborn has also mowed the entire field with a riding lawn mower. “That’s enormous - it takes four hours,” he noted. “You can smoke two full-size Cuban cigars and drink four bottles of water, that’s how long it takes to mow the field. We did that once a week all summer.” He also purchased a cover
for the pitching mound to protect the area from inclement weather. Kathryn Reith, a spokesperson for the school district, said the district closed the field after it reviewed the area at the request of the school’s athletic director and associate principal, who were concerned about the field’s safety. “There were issues with uneven grass surfaces, batting cage conditions, uneven asphalt and concrete issues,” said Reith, noting the field was closed to prevent any injuries from happening. She said the district has various stakeholders - including school staff and students, booster clubs and community users - who “take an interest” in the school’s fields and athletic facilities. “In this case, it is apparent we had a lack of clarity with regard to the roles of our stakeholders, which led to the field condition,” said Reith. “That is why we are developing stronger systems, documentation and protocols with regard to maintenance agreements and field upgrades. Ultimately, the district is responsible and we want to make sure this kind of situation does not happen again.” Peter Lyon, whose son also plays on the Kangs varsity baseball team, said he was not surprised when the district shut down the field.
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