Residents Protest Noise and Congestion From Gumbert Field

Members of the neighborhood surrounding Gumbert Park gave the Recreation Commission an earful Monday night over what they say were promises made but not kept.

Residents addressed - and in some cases yelled at - commissioners regarding the noise and parking issues surrounding the use of the park for youth baseball, softball and soccer games. The residents said they were given certain promises by the town when the fields were renovated several years ago. The renovations included field upgrades, a concession stand and a public address system.

The community members made it very clear that it was not baseball that they were opposed to.  In fact they rather enjoy the sounds of children playing, but they do not enjoy some of the problems that seem to have come along with having such a vibrant baseball program.

Resident Marguerite Siegel opened the discussion up.  She had previously sent an e-mail to the commission. Commissioners said they had read it and were taking the issue very seriously.  By a show of hands it was discovered that the majority of the commission members had followed their reading of the e-mail by visiting the fields in question.  They were very interested in helping the cause of the residents of the area, but they took offense to being yelled at or attacked for their actions regarding this issue.

The main complaints of the residents were parking, congestion and noise.  Parking was the main complaint of several residents that spoke.  One said "you can't leave the street because it is not wide enough to get out with cars parked on either side."  They claim that the number of cars coming for baseball games often overflows the parking lot and therefore there are many cars parked on the street.  In addition to this commuters to Manhattan and shoppers at ShopRite across the town line in Garwood also often use the street for parking. 

The street is not wide enough to accommodate all these parked cars and residents feel it is creating a safety concern.  They feel that a fire truck would not even be able to get through if the need should arise.  In addition, there were at least two people who cited instances in which people blocked their driveways and trapped them.

They claim the games often start very early in the morning and they are woken up by public announcement systems. 

Tempers flared as both sides tried to prove their point and defend their opinions.  Mrs. Siegel said at one point "We shouldn't be praying for rain, but we pray for rain so we can have a quiet morning." 

Her husband said "Why don't you declare it eminent domain and take my house from me." 

He feels his property value has decreased and the atmosphere has caused him to no longer wish to live in Westfield.  Commission members assured the residents that no games occur on Sunday mornings and that fields are really booked because of the success of the program.

Councilwomen Joann Neylan and Vicki Kimmins, who represent the neighborhood, were present at the meeting to hear the concerns of the citizens and to help come up with solutions.  Neylan suggested that the citizens come up with a wish list of what needed to be fixed.  She assured the residents that plans were already underway for a four way stop sign at the intersection Chestnut and Fourth, which she said would make it a little less dangerous. 

Neylan said she was very interested in helping to relieve some of the problems however she said "we can't change the success of our town."

Commission Chairman Jim Marvin thanked the residents for coming before the commission, saying "you guys have raised awareness." He added "I think you should see change fairly quickly." 

The commission is going to start by sending e-mail to all of the coaches to encourage them to be more considerate of the neighborhood.  The commission is also going to encourage carpooling to games to decrease the amount of cars that come to each game.