Residents urge district to relocate athletic complex over parking, privacy concerns

Mary Sweeney Gengler, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the board to stop plans to build an athletic complex behind neighborhood homes, saying parking at a recent track meet showed the location would cause repeated trespassing and privacy loss. "Parking at this event was a huge issue," she said, recounting vehicles parking on grass and people walking across private property.

A second commenter, introduced as Mike, said homeowners near the proposed site would pay costs the district does not — listing traffic congestion, trespassing, increased litter, noise and light pollution — and urged trustees not to approve the complex at the proposed location. "All in the name of savings to the school budget," he said, arguing that adjacent residents should not be asked to shoulder those external costs. The public speakers suggested locating athletics on the outskirts of town, noting Garrison School uses a separate athletic site many blocks from its campus.

The comments prompted board and staff discussion about whether an alternate site or expanded parking could address the problems and whether annexation or city processes would change which studies are required. No formal vote on site selection occurred at the meeting; board members said the annexation petition process and further study are next steps.