By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Homeowners who live near Sand Point Magnuson Park have been vocal in opposing the City's plans to install lighting at the park's athletic fields for nighttime games.

However residents who live in transitional housing located inside the park could face even more direct glare, according to the draft environmental impact statement regarding the proposed project.

There are six transitional housing buildings in the park operated by different agencies including the Low Income Housing Institute, Friends of Youth, and Youthcare, which would be separated from the fields by two parking lots and a roadway.

Those lights (and impacts from construction in the park) could make life even harder for an already fragile population according to Sharon Lee, executive director of the Low Income Housing Institute. "We believe it'll create a very hostile place for people to live," she said. Bob Rench, director of administration for Friends of Youth, agrees. "We hope the city council and the parks administration takes a careful look at this proposal before they go any further," he said. "We think they've really misjudged the environmental impacts."

Eric Friedli, director of operations and planning for Sand Point Magnuson Park, said that potential ill effects on those who live in the park are being taken into consideration, and that the Parks Department might consider special mitigation measures such as adding extra vegetation or providing special screens inside the buildings to shield the light.

"We're interested in making sure that housing is successful," said Friedli. "We don't want to do something that's going to hinder their programs unnecessarily."

For more information on Sand Point Magnuson Park, call Eric Friedli at 684-8369. b