Grass is Good
Donation protected
In the beginning of March, the Edmonds Heights community was shocked to find out the Edmonds School District together with the City of Edmonds was planning
to destroy the last designated Open Space in the city of Edmonds that isn't beach or marshland and replace it with 4 lighted crumb rubber turf fields. The stated goal of this project is to create a regional sports complex for select and adult soccer leagues. These cherished grass fields are currently used by residents of the area as well as the students of Edmonds Heights for sports, science classes and general enjoyment of the outdoors. This Open Space is surrounded on all sides by a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area. Over 800 area residents signed a petition requesting the School District consider keeping natural grass or at least other non toxic alternatives. The community has inundated the School District and City with current information
of the worries and health risks these "recycled tire" crumb rubber fields present to people and wildlife. While cities and districts around the United States and countries in Europe have banned the installation of new crumb rubber, Edmonds has unilaterally pushed this project through despite massive community opposition.
We are now in a lawsuit against the City of Edmonds and the Edmonds School District. In their desire to generate revenue and appease these private businesses our city government disregarded ethics and their own codes. No environmental impact studies. No community
involvement. Circumventing their own permitting process. Unfortunately I had to file a lawsuit in Snohomish County Superior Court and have so far accrued $15,000 in legal fees. It is deplorable that a private citizen has to do this, to hold their government accountable to the law and the will of its people.
Governments and corporations hope that private citizens become exhausted and run out of money when they are called out on their behavior, so they can continue business as usual. Elected officials can go on building a project for private special interest groups with taxpayer money. We are not going away. This is too important to our children and community. Once this grass is gone, it will never come back. Help keep these natural grass fields available for everybody to enjoy and stand against our School District and City of Edmonds unethical goal of revenue at any cost. Your contribution will help to stop this misconceived boondoogle in Superior Court.
to destroy the last designated Open Space in the city of Edmonds that isn't beach or marshland and replace it with 4 lighted crumb rubber turf fields. The stated goal of this project is to create a regional sports complex for select and adult soccer leagues. These cherished grass fields are currently used by residents of the area as well as the students of Edmonds Heights for sports, science classes and general enjoyment of the outdoors. This Open Space is surrounded on all sides by a Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Area. Over 800 area residents signed a petition requesting the School District consider keeping natural grass or at least other non toxic alternatives. The community has inundated the School District and City with current information
of the worries and health risks these "recycled tire" crumb rubber fields present to people and wildlife. While cities and districts around the United States and countries in Europe have banned the installation of new crumb rubber, Edmonds has unilaterally pushed this project through despite massive community opposition.
We are now in a lawsuit against the City of Edmonds and the Edmonds School District. In their desire to generate revenue and appease these private businesses our city government disregarded ethics and their own codes. No environmental impact studies. No community
involvement. Circumventing their own permitting process. Unfortunately I had to file a lawsuit in Snohomish County Superior Court and have so far accrued $15,000 in legal fees. It is deplorable that a private citizen has to do this, to hold their government accountable to the law and the will of its people.
Governments and corporations hope that private citizens become exhausted and run out of money when they are called out on their behavior, so they can continue business as usual. Elected officials can go on building a project for private special interest groups with taxpayer money. We are not going away. This is too important to our children and community. Once this grass is gone, it will never come back. Help keep these natural grass fields available for everybody to enjoy and stand against our School District and City of Edmonds unethical goal of revenue at any cost. Your contribution will help to stop this misconceived boondoogle in Superior Court.
Organizer
Edmonds Fields
Organizer
Edmonds, WA
