A letter to Superintendent Plano and the School Board:

I would like to express my concern about the recent proposal to restrict public access to the Mercer Island High School stadium. As the father of one MI high school student and two more children who are scheduled to attend MIHS, I am aware of the need to have a good facility that gives students priority for use. However, as the father of those children and Mercer Island recreational sports coach for the past 11 years, I am also aware of the critical need for public recreational field use. There have been several notable trends that have influenced walk-on recreational field use over the past few years. One is that organized sports have become more regimented and competitive. As a result, there is a gradually diminishing opportunity for children to play pick-up sports. A second trend has to do with over-crowding and diminished sports field use on Mercer Island. Currently, there is significant concern that various children’s recreational sports will have fewer places to play next year.

As a result, both children and adults have less space for spontaneous, recreational sports play. This is particularly true in winter months, when activity should ideally be encouraged. Please don’t follow through with this proposed action. It will not create goodwill in the community and will continue to erode our capacity to encourage exercise at a time when it is becoming an increasing priority for us all.

David R. Patterson