Environmental Impact and Brodie Park South
Sharon Wilbur
It was brought to my attention a couple of times now, that FoBPS is convinced that the field at Brodie Park South is being environmentally harmed by its use for active sports by our children. The first time it was brought up was in the conversation Mike Maloney had with a woman who was walking her dog off leash, where she insisted that football “damaged the environment,” and again tonight at the Recreation Commission meeting, where Maria Moore urged the Rec Commission to use its schedules to make sure that Brodie Park South was used by less environmentally damaging activities.
I asked the audience what, if any, of football’s activities were more environmentally damaging than other sports would be, and in fact what about sports was environmentally damaging at all. Jeff Radwick asked if I had seen the report by the Northwest Conservation District. I told him that I had, and nothing in the report called sports use environmental damaging. I post the link here, so you can see it for yourself. Brodie%20Park%20Eco%20Baseline
The report by the Northwest Conservation District, whose Executive Director is a resident of New Hartford, is an overview of the entire 145 acres, including woodland trails. Its focus appears to be making the case to preserve the area as open space, with passive activity only, which is true for the majority. The report makes a quick note about possibility of erosion from “construction of ball fields,” but youth sports is not advocating that, nor is football. They’re just using the field for practice. The report comments positively about habitats created by the different mowing schedules of the two portions of field area, one used for practice, the other not used for practice.
Since the “environmental impact” statement was brought about by two BPS dog walkers, and we know that people have stepped in it, kids have been smeared in it; they don’t pick it up, I’d like to point out the following, for the folks who choose Brodie Park South for their pooch’s potty. These links are to reports detailing the damage that dog feces does to ground water runoff. Environmental damage here is real.
http://www.volunteerguide.org/minutes/service-projects/water-pollution
http://www.deq.co.pima.az.us/pdf/Water/PetWasteSW.pdf
http://www.rvcny.us/new/Pet%20Waste%201.pdf
Please pick up after your dogs.
newhartfordbeacon.com 
As far as I know, there are three people who don’t want football playing at BPS, Maria and Bob Moore, and Jeff Radwick. Maria has been shown to be on numerous occasions a less than credible source of information. She doesn’t have the power that she thinks she does. The Board of Selectmen are committed to supporting football and they will be playing at Brodie Park South this season, and possibly next season. Football will move to Antolini when the field is ready. Mr. Radwick will hopefully agree that a little patience will pay off in the long run. The park lands were meant to be used and enjoyed by all. There is plenty of room for everyone.
There was a petition presented to the Rec Commission, now part of public record. They supposedly have the signatures of 200 residents of New Hartford (that number was thrown out as fact at the meeting but has not been verified) who were encouraging the Rec Commission to limit the use of BPS for youth sports.
The petition is part of public record. Can I get a copy of it on Monday? I can stop in! I have it off!
official minutes are filed with the Town Clerk. I would check with Donna LaPlante to see if she has it first.
Back to math again, there are roughly 300 parents of the 150 kids that currently appreciate their ability to use town owned land at Brodie South as it has been used for decades. Lets add a bunch of aunts, uncles and grandparents of said kids. Now, lets move onto the hundreds upon hundreds that play baseball and soccer, who might find themselves in the position football is in today, and would like to protect themselves from this harrassment. Whether its 100 or 200 signatures, these are people who want to change the use of town owned land, and a few signatures should not mean the use should be changed, if those signatures even exist. If there was ever a vote, democracy would prevail.
I’m convinced that there is no point in trying to reason with someone that can turn a two hour practice into a ten hour practice with magic math.
Agreed! Logic is something most of us need to deal with our everyday dealings. Illogic drives us nuts.
“As far as I know, there are three people who don’t want football playing at BPS, Maria and Bob Moore, and Jeff Radwick.” – i know there has been a petition signed by 100 people agreeing that football, as well as other non passive recreation use of the park was unwanted. saying, “as far as i know, there are three people…” shows me you aren’t well enough aware of the current situation. many New Hartford residents agree on the idea of BPS being A preserved area to be protected for the sake of its natural beauty. the playing of football isn’t what matters as much, it is just unfortunate the football practice was the one to be involved as the issue raised awareness in the eyes of Jeff, Maria, and Bob, as well as at at least another 77 caring persons who enjoy and respect the ideals and thoughts of every spoken voice.
Well then you’ve answered the question that the President of Soccer raised today, that if they used BPS and Football played elsewhere, would that be acceptable. Radwick said they’d talk about it, but it’s clear that isn’t what you think.
I will say, that if it comes down to it, your 100 people are like a pair of twos against a royal flush.
I have asked who are the members of Friends of Brodie Park South, to a member of FoBPS, and no one will give me a straight answer. The only people that I am aware of are Maria, Bob and Jeff. Hence, the statement, as far as I know….. This not a formal organization and there is no paperwork filed with any Town, State or Federal agency on their behalf. As I stated before, the Board of Selectman have a plan to move football, but people need to be patient. The park will continue to house youth sports activities in the future but with an organization that is better suited to the site. Again, there is room for everyone to enjoy the park.
I beg to differ with you – Jeff, Maria, Bob and the 77 other “caring persons” do not respect the ideals and thoughts of every spoken voice. Nothing could be further from the truth. I can’t speak for all 77 individuals because I don’t know who they are, but I can assure you that the few that have spoken up at town meetings (mostly Maria, Bob and Jeff) care ONLY about their agenda. They care nothing for the hundreds of taxpayers that happen to be involved in youth sports, whom have been granted the ability to enjoy that town owned land in their own manner, the same manner that other youth sports programs have been able to use that land for decades. The ONLY solution, as you mentioned, is to immediately end non-passive recreation in the park. Period. That’s not very respectful of the needs of the hundreds that use that park for active recreation.
I’d add that I think all New Hartford residents believe BPS is beautiful. Its a beautiful 150 acre park, of which football is currently – and temporarily – using 2 acres of open field space, for about 300 hours out of the year. They are in no way destroying the beauty that is there. They appreciate it as well, and as taxpayers, have a right to use the park. And they, at least, are willing to share it.
It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it.
You are correct. We get sloppy when our computer programs put apostrophes in every its you type.
That said, and after I acknowledged your comment, will you pick up your dog’s feces? Or is it not about the environment at all?
I’m sure I’m not the only one to catch this…..But even with Moore math 77+3=80 not the 100 they are claiming signed the petition…
Is it 80 or 100 or 150 or 200? We may never know. She wrote about the petition, but then posted a blank one. We are working on getting the actual petition presented in the meeting, and will post it here, for everyone to see. With a history of difficulties with math/counting, we’d like to see it with our own eyes. Who knows, she might think her signature counts for 100 signatures.
“roughly 300 parents of the 150 kids that currently appreciate their ability to use town owned land at Brodie South as it has been used for decades. Lets add a bunch of aunts, uncles and grandparents of said kids. Now, lets move onto the hundreds upon hundreds that play baseball and soccer”
My kids are in their 20s, don’t play NH sports, & don’t have their own kids. I have no nieces or nephews in NH sports. But, you can add my wife, two kids, and me to that count. I’m sure there are others like us, too.
BTW – I had my ear bent yesterday by a FoBPS supporter who had no answer when I asked who are the people that make up FoBPS….kinda makes you wonder why they hide. I guess their real name is AnnonymousFoBPS.