LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Parks board was right to lift ban

Editor, Contrary to The Record’s March 8 editorial, the park board’s decision to lift its ban on Terry Swanson was not based on favoritism or a “free pass” to disobey rules. Instead, its decision effectively admits that: 1) the park director’s order that Terry corral 18 athletes within a 30-by-50 area was based upon the director’s misunderstanding of the number of players involved, it was unsafe, and would have caused precisely the damage to the turf that the park wants to avoid; 2) the board has no precedent for banning citizens for playing soccer on an open soccer field; and 3) the primary purpose of the soccer fields is for soccer and not for show.

March 14, 2014 6:37 pm

Editor,

Contrary to The Record’s March 8 editorial, the park board’s decision to lift its ban on Terry Swanson was not based on favoritism or a “free pass” to disobey rules.

Instead, its decision effectively admits that: 1) the park director’s order that Terry corral 18 athletes within a 30-by-50 area was based upon the director’s misunderstanding of the number of players involved, it was unsafe, and would have caused precisely the damage to the turf that the park wants to avoid; 2) the board has no precedent for banning citizens for playing soccer on an open soccer field; and 3) the primary purpose of the soccer fields is for soccer and not for show.

In other words, the board realizes that the park is meant for the people who pay for and use it. Its support of Terry’s actions shows that common sense trumps unreasonable bureaucracy.

Terry Swanson is a model citizen, a caring person, and a great coach.

ERIC HOOD, Langley

MICHAEL GIBSON, Clinton

NELS BERGQUIST, Langley

JOHN AND KELLY HENRIOT, Clinton

MAGGIE JONES, Freeland