Roller Hockey

* The Camarillo Parks and Recreation Department wants to let a private developer construct a roller hockey complex in the open grass area next to Las Colinas Elementary School. I went to Carpinteria, where the same developer has already built a rink. This is not just a small piece of concrete, as some people say. It is a sports complex complete with walls, high fences, bleachers and permanent portable toilets.

Carpinteria placed it in a commercial area, next to the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s substation beside Highway 101. The nearest homes sit across the freeway. At game time, the traffic is bumper-to-bumper. Between games, the teams waiting to play are skating in the parking lot. The game-playing itself produces noise above the sound of the freeway traffic. When the game buzzer goes off, the Sheriff’s Department gets noise complaints from condo owners across the freeway, one mile away.

We are not against roller hockey, but this rink would seriously affect the quality of life in our neighborhood. They would play in their privately fenced-off section of the park. Players would play their games and leave. Meanwhile, those of us who live in the neighborhood would be subject to the additional noise and traffic seven days a week!

We have been accused of holding a “not-in-my-backyard” mind-set but a roller hockey rink does not belong in anyone’s backyard.

There will be a public forum on this issue Wednesday 9/15 at 7 p.m. at the community center. I hope and pray that instead of wasting time, energy and money fighting we can work together to find a more appropriate location for this sport.

If Carpinteria can find a good location that does not disrupt a neighborhood, why can’t Camarillo?

RICHARD WALL

Camarillo