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May 4, 2005

Soccer field woes

Below is my story from today's News & Record on the concerns of some folks in Adams Farm. While the AF isn't in Jamestown or north High Point, my sense is that many in the mega-hood align themselves with Jamestown and north High Point more than Greensboro, the neighborhood's actual home.

Once again, I'm posting because I'm assuming that not everybody who reads this blog also picks up our paper (though, of course, you should; you don't know what yer missing!!!). And I'm not even sure if my story actually made it into the print edition, if you live in Greensboro.

Also, my hope is this will spark some story ideas from y'all. If, for whatever reason, you don't want to post ideas on my blog, feel free to e-mail me directly (jhayes@news-record.com) or pick up that old-fashioned invention, the telephone, and give me a ring: 883-4422, Ext. 238.

GREENSBORO — Parents in Adams Farm's Moss Cove neighborhood let their children play in and around their street, a cul-de-sac off a dead-end road.

Behind many homes is an expanse of woods and vacant land. "It's a free-for-all for the kids," said Christine Garrison, a Moss Cove Court resident.

But that could change soon, if a new Southwest Guilford County recreation center is built on land that Greensboro intends to buy.

Preliminary plans show soccer fields near the back yards of several Moss Cove Court homes. Some residents are concerned the fields will lower their property values, take away their sense of security and subject them to the bright lights of night games.

And they worry that Midkiff Road, the dead-end street from which Moss Cove Court branches, will be extended to meet busy Guilford College Road.

There are no plans to extend Midkiff, said Dan Maxson, administrative services manager for Greensboro Parks & Recreation. Safety and security shouldn't be issues either, he said.

Families in Adams Farm have known for years that a recreation center was coming to their area. Plans were approved during a 2000 bond referendum.

But the proposed location of the center was unknown until recently. The site is 28 acres off Hilltop Road, parts of which dip like toes into land near Moss Cove. The city intends to buy the land for $1.54 million.

Bonds for development, design and construction of the center aren't due to be released until 2007. But some parents want to make sure their concerns are heard well in advance of the official planning stage.

"It's not the center itself that bothers us," Garrison said. "It's better than low-cost housing or retail. But these fields are a real concern."

Garrison and her neighbor, Donna Smith, often let their children play outside, within earshot but out of sight.

"But I can't do that," Smith said, "if there's a soccer field filled with strangers right in my back yard."

And she's concerned there will be bright lights for night games.

The fields are likely to be for practices only and wouldn't have lights, said Maxson, the administrative services manager for Greensboro Parks & Recreation.

If they were to have them, he said, lights today are sophisticated enough to shine directly onto fields.

Garrison and Smith both said they're concerned about how the new fields will affect their property values.

Having playing fields and swimming pools near one's neighborhood is a boon, contends Stacey Ryan, a 10-year resident of Greensboro's Lindley Park subdivision and a member of the Lindley Park Neighborhood Association.

"We feel it adds value to the neighborhood by providing more amenities and programs beneficial to the residents," Ryan said.

Security shouldn't be a concern, Maxson said. "Our experience tells us if you have law-abiding citizens using property and facilities, criminal activity goes elsewhere."

Smith and Garrison said they just want to make sure their concerns are heard. Both said they realize Moss Cove will be the community within Adams Farm most affected by the recreation fields.

"Will we be listened to if 90 percent of Adams Farm wants them (the fields)?" Smith asked.

Moss Cove's concerns have been heard "loud and clear," Maxson said. It's very likely a compromise satisfying all Adams Farm can be reached. "We try to work on a consensus basis," he said.

Posted by at May 4, 2005 8:49 AM

Comments

This is a good tag for the top of this blog's comment space. Thought I'd get it up here first and fast.

The following comments were posted by bitter upset parents:

Posted by: Zatoichi at May 4, 2005 9:54 AM

Funny you mention that Adams Farm is not North High Point or Jamestown.

Guess what High School you are zoned for if you live in Adams Farm?

RAGSDALE. Yea, Ragsdale. That's in Jamestown. So, while many who live right IN Jamestown get to be bussed all over High Point for High School, Adams Farm kids have the pleasure of going to Ragsdale.

Does that make sense? And they're whining about getting some million dollar playground?

If Greensboro has these millions just lying around, they need to build Adams Farm a High School, so the Jamestown residents can have the luxury of going to THEIR school--Ragsdale.

Posted by: Lynn at May 4, 2005 11:51 AM

Opposing soccer fields? Just what do they object to? Is it all the mini-vans, juiceboxes and portable chairs from Harris Teeter.

Has a gang of carefully-coiffed young moms been on a crime spree I don't know about?

Posted by: Norskar at May 5, 2005 4:54 PM

You broke the rules. This is clearly Greensboro and should not be on this blog site. If you really do live off Skeet Club, you are making assumptions about an area you obviously know nothing about.

Posted by: Yesskar at May 7, 2005 1:38 PM