Laserfiche WebLink
Ben <br />To: The Everett City Council <br />Re: Considering the S.O.A. proposal for 1 or 2 days of powerboat racing <br />on Silver Lake <br />From: Ben Zarlingo <br />Dear Councilpersons: <br />I've reviewed the application by the Seattle Outboard Association for <br />racing at Silver Lake this year, and I'd like to offer the following comments <br />and associated pictures, to give you a more full appreciation of the nature <br />of the request and the choice you are being asked to make. <br />For many years I have been supportive of the racing day and the special <br />use permit for exceptional use of both the park and the lake itself. I have <br />expressed this support in public forums and have said that the alternate <br />public use is worth the 1 day of impact each year. Now there is a proposal <br />to double that impact and yield much of the park to a private organization <br />for a full warm season weekend. It's a consequential choice to make, and <br />I think these pictures will illustrate it better than the drawings and permit <br />papers. <br />Photo: "Silver Lake Park boat race pits 2019" This picture shows the pit <br />area, where the boats are launched and retrieved. It also shows part of <br />the fenced -off beach area, which will be shown better in other pictures. <br />Though the permit request states an expected attendance of 500-1000, it <br />appears that this event draws a combination of perhaps 200 racers, <br />family, and spectators. <br />Photo: "Silver Lake Park entrance closed" This picture shows one of <br />several entrances to the park which has been closed for the event. This is <br />in the southwest area of the park, next to the old Bible Camp building, and <br />a portion of the disc golf course. <br />Photo: "Silver Lake Park public beach fencing" This photo shows the <br />largest portion of the usual Thornton Sullivan Park public beach area, <br />fenced off for race pits. This area used to be the only location for the pits, <br />but the spacing of the pit stalls has been expanded and the pits now also <br />occupy the shore at the old RV park water front that the City purchased in <br />the 1990s. There is ample spacing for the boats and trailers, but the <br />public is held well back from the beach. <br />Photo: "Silver Lake Park south entrance This photo shows the south <br />entrance of the park (gap in the fence left of center) that is now very <br />