The City of Union City has applied for an Open Space Grant to build a competitive size Football Field in Washington Park where the Cal Ripken Little League Field is currently located The Washington Park Association and surrounding community was not engaged in the planning process of this proposal and concerns have been raised regarding the environmental impact of this proposed project. We understand that the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders will conduct a public hearing on the 2010 Open Space project at 6:00PM on Thursday October 28, 2010 in the Freeholders Chambers located at 567 Pavonia Ave, in Jersey City, N.J. 07306. We would like to request that the Open Space Grant Application submited by the City of Union City be tabled by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and Brian Stack. Doing so will allow community engagement and clarity regarding the proposed football field. We are aware of the need for a sports complex in Hudson Count and especially Union City, but feel Washington Park is not the right location for a full-sized football/multi-use field with 365 days of use. Our concerns are: - The proposal to remove 17 old growth trees - A lack of a public hearing for the community to fully understand the project - The environmental impact concerns: - Traffic - Parking - Lighting - Community access - Noise - Will hydrostatic pressure further stress the already overburdened retaining walls at Manhattan Avenue? - How will the construction and operation of the facility affect the already overburdened intersections nearby. - Heat Island effect of a synthetic fields - Does this need to be a 100 yard field? -Disruption to the surrounding communities year-round - Additional Stadium Lighting reflecting off the Doric and the affects to those residing on the West Side of the Doric. - Does this really fit within the Hudson County Parks Master Plan? - % of space that is recreation vs. passive