My kid can't even find a public County field to practice soccer on because the local travel clubs use the fields from dawn to way 10pm.

Forget any pick up games. There are no parks for that in our VA County, and the Travel Clubs use all of the MS and HS fields on the weekends too. The grass elementary ones have flag football and rec soccer.

Anonymous wrote:Gonzaga is in a part of town that necessitates a locked gate around the property. Allowing the public on their grounds is risky considering the level of crime in that part of town.

Yep. Students have been car-jacked by knife in the garage next to school. It is a very high crime area and that's not even mentioning it's very close proximity to the US Capitol. It is a locked campus for a reason.

Anonymous wrote:The community, many of whom are poor and black, just can't kick or throw a ball on Gonzaga's field or jog around Gonzaga's track when no one is using the the field or track.

You do realize there are larger and nicer DCPS HS tracks within a mile of the school? Gonzaga's track is only 3 lanes. IT's not even regulation size. And the sports field and track are in use by the school pretty much 24/7.

Our local public HS track has locked gates most of the time. And nobody is allowed on during school hours and students only during sports practices/games.

Gonzaga uses the field through out the school day. My son will run during his free period or study outside. Some of his classes have also gone out side --

Anonymous wrote:What you mean is the neighborhoods are different. But if Gonzaga really walks the walk, it could, during certain hours, open its playing field and track to neighborhood walkers and kids who want to play on the field. What's the worse that could happen?

They could get hit with a lacrosse ball at 90 MPH.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not much different than MCPS WJ in Bethesda. The public can't use the WJ field or track during the school day or during WJ team practices. And WJ has girls teams. But the public can use the WJ track or field at other times. How is GZ different?

The huge difference - my tax dollars go to maintaining WJ’s field - it is in fact, a public space. So it stands that a public space built with public dollars can be used by the public.

I would ask that you also investigate the crime rate in the neighborhoods of these two schools and consider that. Gonzaga borders on areas with a very high level of crime, and I am not talking about theft...I am talking about violent crime. It is best that the gates be shuttered to the public to keep the students safe.

Anonymous wrote:That's not much different than MCPS WJ in Bethesda. The public can't use the WJ field or track during the school day or during WJ team practices. And WJ has girls teams. But the public can use the WJ track or field at other times. How is GZ different?

The huge difference - my tax dollars go to maintaining WJ’s field - it is in fact, a public space. So it stands that a public space built with public dollars can be used by the public.

That's not much different than MCPS WJ in Bethesda. The public can't use the WJ field or track during the school day or during WJ team practices. And WJ has girls teams. But the public can use the WJ track or field at other times. How is GZ different?

Anonymous wrote:The community, many of whom are poor and black, just can't kick or throw a ball on Gonzaga's field or jog around Gonzaga's track when no one is using the the field or track.

This statement makes it clear that you really have no idea what you’re talking about. Gonzaga has an extremely compact urban campus with the field being its only field and only “green” space. It is in constant use with PE and outside lunches and classes and every single field sports team. It’s just not one of multiple fields that they can spare to let the public kick a ball around on.

When no one is using the field kids should be in school.

The community, many of whom are poor and black, just can't kick or throw a ball on Gonzaga's field or jog around Gonzaga's track when no one is using the the field or track.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you mean is the neighborhoods are different. But if Gonzaga really walks the walk, it could, during certain hours, open its playing field and track to neighborhood walkers and kids who want to play on the field. What's the worse that could happen?

Are you really equating the rich suburban neighborhood where Landon is located (or even Beauvoir) to the area Gonzaga is located? There is already plenty of open green space nearby Gonzaga for neighbors to use (the National Mall?).

No soup for you!

Actually there is plenty of soup offered by Gonzaga to the community. So you got that wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you mean is the neighborhoods are different. But if Gonzaga really walks the walk, it could, during certain hours, open its playing field and track to neighborhood walkers and kids who want to play on the field. What's the worse that could happen?

Are you really equating the rich suburban neighborhood where Landon is located (or even Beauvoir) to the area Gonzaga is located? There is already plenty of open green space nearby Gonzaga for neighbors to use (the National Mall?).

No soup for you!

Anonymous wrote:What you mean is the neighborhoods are different. But if Gonzaga really walks the walk, it could, during certain hours, open its playing field and track to neighborhood walkers and kids who want to play on the field. What's the worse that could happen?

Are you really equating the rich suburban neighborhood where Landon is located (or even Beauvoir) to the area Gonzaga is located? There is already plenty of open green space nearby Gonzaga for neighbors to use (the National Mall?).

Anonymous wrote:What you mean is the neighborhoods are different. But if Gonzaga really walks the walk, it could, during certain hours, open its playing field and track to neighborhood walkers and kids who want to play on the field. What's the worse that could happen?

LOL