News Virginian
Published: February 6, 2008

We are writing in support of the sports park to be constructed at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville.

My husband is an avid fan of motocross, as is our son. My husband recalls how in his youth he would practice for events by riding through woods, forests, yards — any available space that contained open earth. Most of his practicing was held in the George Washington National Forest near his home. For those who wrote in and want to see our valuable wooded lands being conserved more appropriately, this type of construction would be ideal for keeping vehicles out of that area.

There has been opposition to this park because some fear the resulting noise and pollution. Expo was built in the site where it exists because it was designed for events, public use and high traffic.

Our home is in a subdivision in the country. My son loves to ride a four-wheeler, as do many of his neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, unless we can find a relative or friend with some land to ride on, my son and his friends have nowhere to ride but in our neighborhood. Cars speed down our street on a regular basis, so we have to keep a careful eye on our children. Older neighbors complain about noise.

There are not a lot of extracurricular activities that are safe and supervised that our children can involve themselves in outside of school events, especially in the county. A large number of boys and girls could utilize the sports park in a safe, supervised setting. Plus, it would promote parent-child bonding activities, which are important to my husband and son, and many others we know.

We implore all local residents who would appreciate and support a family-friendly sports arena for our children to acknowledge their support to the planning commission and the developers.

Sherril Stinnett

Fishersville

I hope all Augusta County residents will take a serious look at the whole impact of the proposed extreme sports park at Expoland before thinking the complete package is a good deal. I agree that a skate park, and maybe even a BMX track, might not be too bad, but a motocross track is one thing that is not compatible with this area.

My home on Tinkling Spring Road is about nine-tenths of a mile if measured in a straight line from Expoland. During the few times that the super tractors and monster trucks have their meets at Expoland, I cannot plan any outdoor social activities. They sound like they are almost in my front yard. Since the motocross bikes will be operating five days a week, I think allowing this kind of recreation in this area is asking too much of the residents and businesses of Fishersville.

With plans already in place to build 188 new homes closer to Expoland than where I live, I do not believe Expoland is the place for an extreme sports park.

Wake up, friends. Take a step back and look at the whole picture.

Lawrence Smoot

Fishersville