Letters

I am a person who feels very divided about the proposal to purchase land on Marsden Street on which Sag Harbor School District voters are being asked to vote. But I do have to point out that the recent article in The Express [“Potential Purchase of Marsden Street Lots Is Talk of the Town in Sag Harbor Ahead of November 3 Vote,” 27east.com, October 26] is not well researched.

It states that there is an environmental report conducted by the school that shows no environmental problem. The report in question does not cover what would be the effects of new construction, i.e. installing a flat field in a gully that now absorbs stormwater. The report only, up to a point, covers what is there now. There is no report on the potential effects of new construction, because as far as we know the site has not yet been designed by engineers. So we don’t know how drainage will work, what materials would be used, etc.

Another inaccuracy in this article is the implication that questioning the safety of artificial turf is somehow a fringe opinion that unfairly disadvantages our school athletes. In fact, the city of Boston has now banned artificial turf fields because of proven safety concerns.

The writer states that the distance between the school and Mashashimuet Park that students now often walk is 2.5 miles. It is actually one mile.

I love the school and am grateful for my children’s education there and the enjoyment and discipline they gained playing soccer, hockey, and lacrosse on whatever fields at parks and schools were then available. I have also lived in the village for 50 years. I am concerned about its future, with climate change, with bigger storms (basements are flooding already from road runoff with nowhere to go) and with clean water.

Let’s please find a solution that does not jeopardize any of that. If the Southampton Community Preservation Fund does allow purchase, let’s have more research — and accurate reporting — before a final decision as to the use of that land is made.

In my view, let’s do have a grass sports field — if we can build it safely. If not, let’s have a small urban forest that the students can study and improve. With all the giant construction that has happened in this area, CPF can surely afford either of those wonderful and needed things for Sag Harbor.

I am grateful to the district for reaching out and hope for an evolving conversation.

Carol Williams

Sag Harbor