I thank the District 3 Advisory Commission for this opportunity to bring an important concern to them.
I am Robert FitzPatrick, 1522 Lilac Rd., and president of Friends of Freedom Park. We are the group that worked to save the cherry trees, to move the "Freedom Bell" tourist attraction to a location other than Freedom Park, and we worked to limit the size and purpose of the indoor shelter that is under renovation now. We are also working to save a seven acre natural wooded area in the park, which we spoke to you about in March.
I am here with a request from many concerned park patrons to adopt a policy that restricts amplified noise in the park, except for rare or very special events.
This is not an issue for police enforcement of noise ordinances, based on a technical decibel levels. The police have more pressing responsibilities. This is a public policy matter regarding the purpose and use of the park and the rights of people coming to the park and those living near it.
Meanwhile the amount of noise in the park grows whether that is the intended policy of the park dept. or not.
This policy change needs to be guided by the same basic questions that we raised during the cherry tree, Freedom Bell, and indoor shelter controversies:
1. What is Freedom Park all about?
On weekends, is it primarily for recreation?
Or is it a dedicated special event venue, like Cricket Auditorium, civic
center, Verizon Pavilion, etc. with amplified sound that fills the entire
lake area? That is what it is becoming.
2. . Who is Freedom Park for?
Is it to be open and accessible to all?
Or, can private groups effectively buy the park on weekends and then dominate
the entire lake area and surrounding neighborhood with their amplified sound?
That is what we are getting now.
3. . How are its resources - beautiful landscape, hills, trees, lake,
and picnic shelters - to be used?
For public recreation pursued by people on their own?
Or, for private entertainment events that preclude others from doing their
own things? That is what we have now on many weekends.
4. How does its location - surrounded by single-family homes of residents expecting some level of peace and privacy -- affect what goes on in the park?
Many of us see the greatest values of Freedom Park -- a respite from urban noise and congestion and a place for all people to come and enjoy beautiful natural resources -- being lost to amplified noise from private groups.
The simple pleasures of the park, for which it is so famous -- picnicking, quiet walks around a tranquil pond, enjoying its natural beauty, young people courting, a day in the park with the children -- are being displaced. These traditional park activities require a certain level of peace and privacy. Loud amplified noise is devaluing the park for the general public.
And the rights of nearby residents are being ignored or violated by extremely loud amplified sound. On Lilac Rd. and other nearby streets, pictures on the walls move, windows rattle, babies are awakened. Sitting on the patio is impossible. Reading a book indoors is difficult. Is it fair or right for a district park to do this to its immediate neighbors?
The issue is not the events themselves or the types of groups renting the park or the type of noise. It is the LEVEL of the noise. Amplification engulfs much of the lake area, far beyond the few people attending the event. It changes the entire atmosphere of the park.
Just as we asked to save the park's most famous trademark, the older cherry trees, we are asking the park dept. to save the park's main value and purpose -- its serene atmosphere and its availability for all residents to enjoy its resources. This is being "cut down" by amplified noise.
One Example:
Saturday, April 23 was a beautiful spring day, a perfect "Freedom Park" day. Unfortunately, the park dept. rented out the bandshell that day. Amplified music and evangelical preaching blasted several blocks in any direction all afternoon and part of the evening. Windows of the houses of Lilac Rd. shook with percussion. One resident actually told me she was afraid to go into the park during the preaching, noting that it felt aggressive and sectarian. The sound volume made it feel they were directing their religious message directly at her!!!
If I had taken an out-of-town visitor to the park that day to showcase our wonderful urban park, I would have been quite embarrassed. The sound level hindered or harmed all other activity. If my guest had asked me how the city could sacrifice such a beautiful urban resource for the use of a private group, what would I say?
"They need the revenue" or
"They don't realize what is occurring" or
"They don't care."
Charlotte has many places for amplified music to be played, amplified sermons to be preached, and loud, amplified parties and fund-raisers to be held. Let's not lose Freedom Park's special value. Let's keep it available on weekends for everyone to use and enjoy. Let's reduce the noise, please.
I have attached to the copy of this presentation, some of the comments sent to us from patrons who are asking for noise reduction.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
"I'm in favor of limited hours for amplification, though. No earlier than, say 9 AM and no later than sunset (which I define as the sun dropping below the tree line, not darkness). And perhaps there should be periodic breaks."
"This (noise pollution) is a very important issue. It goes hand in hand in getting the (natural wooded) area behind Lilac Road and Forest Park Drive designated as a nature area."
"I agree 100%. I believe that the Park should be open for everyone to use, but their rights of use should not interfere with the enjoyment of others or the public as a whole. I further believe that The Park and Rec Department should establish a clear and rigid policy to address the use of car stereos in the park. On an almost daily basis people blast car stereos while using the fields or basketball courts. Park Watch should be charged to ask these noise polluters to turn off their car stereos or leave the park. Repeat offenders should be either fined or banned from using the park until they can show a willingness to extend some simple consideration to other park patrons."
"I agree that we need to restrict amplification of park events. I don't think this will be an easy feat. It is a public place and as such has certain protections as long as groups abide by the noise ordinance. To ban amplified sound may well require a new ordinance or a revision. We do need to have better control on the level of sound, whatever the case."
"I do not mind music, movies, or other events in the park as long as noise is kept at a tolerable level. We enjoy the Festival in the Park. I go to church every Sunday and do not need to hear preaching in the Park."
"I have been disturbed by the loud "preaching" several times and even avoided the park. That particular use feels sectarian and exclusive of others. Thanks, for your advocacy on this and so many other issues. I enjoyed the cherry trees so much this spring thanks to you!"
"In my opinion, total elimination should be strived for, but a compromise may be the best result. The level of compromise will probably be dependent on the response you get, and that NOT from users like me, who are able to escape the sound. Possible compromise: One or Two hours per day allowed and at certain times of day! Good luck!"
"I support the move to keep Freedom Park QUIET! I have lived in Dilworth for more than 20 years; recently moved and the noise pollution I've encountered in other areas of the city are terrible. The parks need to be places of refuge from the noise and pollution we are bombarded with daily. To stroll in the park and listen to nature is to soothe the tired soul ... to stroll thru the park with loud noises battering my senses, regardless of what the noises are coming from, makes me nuts. I feel sorry for the residents near the park. Please do not allow the noise pollution to increase or continue."
"Taking back our parks for private moments are vital to a civilized city life."
"Pulling all amplification from parks is the solution. Speakers can still voice an idea. But to the people who are within ear shot. Hearing music that is performed and only hearing the strings or the voice may be a perfect impact on a Sunday stroll. Not being assaulted with unwanted waves of attacking sounds and screaming voices."
"Other great cities have already adopted this idea. Central Park in New York, Hyde Park in London, Soldiers field in Chicago. "
"I was born and raised in Charlotte and have a residence in Charlotte now. There are so many wonderful new venues in Charlotte with plenty of spaces for entertaining.Freedom Park has always been one of my favorite spots for quiet and relaxation, a place in the city where one can slow ones pace and enjoy the beauty of the nature all around....I am 46 now and my whole life it has always been that ...for me and all my friends that group up in the Selwyn area. Lets keep it as the beautiful and simple place it is. A place for all a ages to relax and reflect and share and enjoy nature in the midst of the city."
"Thanks for letting me know about this issue. Noise pollution is just as debilitating as air pollution in many instances. I am a native Charlottean and grew up going to Freedom Park as a teenager."
"We enjoy a quiet Freedom Park when my 6 and almost 5-yr old sons and I visit the Nature Museum. If one of the purposes of the Nature Museum is to provide habitat for native species, I would think that loud noises would scare away many animals. Please limit or complete restrict amplification at the park."
"Our home backs up to the park. We find many events very noisy, to the point of us not wanting to be in our yard. Large, infrequent events,like Festival in the Park,are fun; but we would not want the amplified events to increase. We are able to hear a saxophone player on some Sundays very clearly in our yard. He very beautifully plays on the stage with no amplification. We expect some noise from the park, but frequent amplified events are very annoying and decreases the total beauty of the area. We very much support keeping the park beautiful to our ears as well as our eyes."
"Events that require high powered amplification should be held at Uptown or at the Southpark amphitheatre. Not Freedom Park."
"Freedom Park should be amplification-free."
"We want to be able to enjoy the park free of noise pollution that are intrusive upon our quiet time and privacy. The events at the park also cause a lot of traffic on East Blvd. and on cut-through streets like Sterling Rd. People drive fast on these cut-through streets and blare loud music in their cars. It is very annoying."
"In American cities, we have become desensitized to the effects of noise because it is so difficult to get away from noise pollution. But studies show that we are negatively effected nevertheless. Surely the basic concept of a public park includes aural "space" as well as green space. Noise is noise, whether or not someone has paid for the privilege of using loudspeakers in a public setting."
"I agree completely. The rental of the park to groups with amplified sound should not be allowed. I love the sound of people cheering for the sports,etc. but a park should not be subject to artificial noise,amplified sound of any kind. At the very least the only music allowed should be from actual musicians playing an instrument/instruments."