The emotionally charged objections of 17 Sykesville residents did not deter the Town Council from voting to approve a bid for a basketball hoop to be installed in Bloomfield Park.
“Certainly we don?t want to ruin anyone?s neighborhood. We try to look past the bumps in the road and look at the big picture,” said Sykesville Mayor Jonathan Herman, adding that the hoop will help promote exercise and fight obesity in children.
Stay informed.Stay ahead.
Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.
Already a member? Log in
The Town Council on Monday voted unanimously to pay Finksburg-based Tracey?s Blacktop between about $6,500 and $18,000 to build the court.
The 30-by-50-foot basketball court with two hoops will be installed in a grassy area of the football-shaped park, which is surrounded by about 30 houses.
Many of those who crammed into the Town Hall to object to the basketball hoop are neighbors who live around the park on Wimmer and Talon lanes. They cited noise pollution, crime, traffic and safety as reasons for their concern.
“The council doesn?t take into consideration the noise it will create ? the noise of the basketball hitting the backboard and the noise of the basketball hitting the pavement,” said Jane Banaszak, of Wimmer Lane.
Five residents suggested that a volleyball court be built instead of basketball because it would not require the grass to be paved.
“I think we?ve run hoops into the ground. … Volleyball is definitely a much more family-oriented sport,” said John Bryant, of Wimmer Lane, who brought in a cardboard model of the park and surrounding houses to demonstrate the noise problems he said will occur if a basketball court is installed.
The two residents who supported the basketball hoops said they were anxious to end the two years of disagreement.
“It?s tearing the community apart; everyone agrees with that,” said Michael Crouse, of Hawkridge Lane.
