The Impact Of Night-time Lighted Stadium Events
Noise Pollution – Light Pollution – Traffic Congestion – Parking Shortages – Wildlife Protections – Degradation of Community Character, Ambiance & Natural Beauty
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“It would be difficult to conceive of a location more poorly suited to a lighted stadium than the Marin Catholic property.”
Marin Catholic High School borders densely-populated, rising hills on two sides and wetlands harboring protected species on a third side. The immediate neighborhood is vertical in nature and terraced directly above the school, creating a natural amphitheater effect. This topography amplifies sound and concentrates light pollution, as we have already seen with the Marin General Hospital project.
Share Your Concerns
For more than 25 years, Ross Valley community members and experts alike have expressed their deep concerns regarding Marin Catholic’s plan to illuminate the stadium for frequent night-time spectator sports and public events. These concerns include significant noise pollution, light pollution, traffic congestion, parking shortages, wildlife protection and degradation of the natural beauty and quality of life in Ross Valley and its environs. Marin Catholic has persistently denied and dismissed these concerns.
Noise Pollution
Every child deserves a good night’s rest. The noise emanating from stadium events is very loud and it is not limited to cheers and boos, but also includes noise from stomping feet on aluminum bleachers, air horns, marching bands, traffic and crackling PA system announcements. The disruption to peaceful evenings is unwarranted and simply unfair, and the residents shouldn’t be asked to tolerate the transformation of the area.
Light Pollution
Every day needs a night. Skyglow and glare is of significant concern for Ross Valley residents due to the topography of the area. Light pollution from the towering 80-foot light structures will disrupt the natural night sky and adversely affect local wildlife.
Traffic Congestion
MCHS is a commuter school where more than 85% of students are not local. Adding more traffic to the evening rush hour and later will only excacerbate existing parking shortages and cause more traffic jams.
Parking Shortages
MCHS does not have enough onsite parking for nightime events, so they plan to let spectator parking spill over into neighboring areas where the streets are narrow and already crowded with parked cars at night. Allowing a private school to convert local streets into short-term event parking would be unlawful and unnecessarily dangerous.
Natural Aesthetics
The illumination and use of the MCHS field lights for nightime spectator-sports, public assembly and other activities will change the character, beauty and visual attributes of the Ross Valley Community and its environs forever.
Wildlife Protections
Artificial light and noise pollution are one of the most widespread threats to biodiversity around the globe. It has numerous and severe impacts on wildlife, especially harming nocturnal wildlife, species active during twilight, insects, and migratory birds and bats. Artificial light and intrusive noise disrupts natural rhythms, influences predator-prey relationships, and hinders navigation, reproduction, nourishment and sleep.
Join Us In Protecting Our Community
We invite you to stand with us in preserving the tranquility of Ross Valley. Write a letter or attend the upcoming community meeting to express your concerns about nightime stadium events. Together, we can make a difference.
“The noise would be a permanent and unstoppable intruder in our living rooms and bedrooms, and would become one of the defining characteristics of the neighborhood. “
Jim McClellan
“I fear that the number of cars coming and going from MC, whether it be from night games or practices, will only extend the evening commute well into the later evening. This means more gridlock, more smog, and more noise.”
Tony Salvadore
Spectators would inevitably spill into neighboring areas to seek street parking. Streets in Greenbrae are already narrow and crowded with parked cars at night, and these new visitors would only exacerbate this already serious problem.” Kelly Booth
“This will light up this peaceful end of the valley and give the appearance of a Kmart parking lot.”
Marin IJ Readers Forum
“Night lighting can be lethal for birds, particularly during migration. Birds are attracted to lighting causing them to go off course. They can become exhausted, fall to the ground and die or collide with windows or other objects nearby.” Marin Audubon Society