Friends of Concord-Carlisle Playing Fields

The following Letter to the Editor, from Gail K. Keane of Westvale Meadow, was published in the May 31, 2007 edition of the Concord Journal:

With respect for both sides of the playing fields controversy it seems to me that the issue is not so much about preserving the Deep Cut Woods, but a simple case of NIMBY: not in my back yard.

It is perfectly understandable that the neighbors on Bristers Hill Road would be concerned about extra traffic, noise, etc. However, when one chooses to live abutting a public school, one understands that the school’s needs and programs can change and the use of property owned by the school can change as well.

There is no question that we need new fields for our children and I do think that the Fields Committee has done a thorough and honest search of all possible locations and have determined that the high school land is the best choice.

I hope that both sides of this issue will be honestly and clearly portrayed at the Town Meeting on June 13 and we can move on to building the new fields that have been so clearly needed for many years without further delay.