While Ballard Junior Football players tackled each other during practice last Thursday at Loyal Heights Playfield, three Seattle City Council candidates listened to the concerns of parents over their dispute with the city and neighbors.

The football program opposes a city hearing examiner's decision that requires an hour break in-between games. This was done to reduce traffic and noise that several neighbors had been opposed to. See Letters, Page 6.

Some homeowners living across the street from the field began disputing the city's decision to install artificial grass there three years ago. The discussions continued with the city over new field lights.

City Council candidates Tim Burgess, Venus Velazquez and Bruce Harrell visited the Ballard football practice to learn more about the situation last week.

Patrick Brake, a parent and former president of the Ballard Football League, said there are 200 families in the program. The one-hour restrictions would force the league to lose money from concessions that pay for the league's programs, he said. As a result, the seven teams would be cutback to five.

Two Saturdays ago, during their home games, the league raised $1,000 for the program. The funds help make scholarships possible for families who cannot afford to have their kids play football. The money also helps for pay the $750 a year in field fees and equipment.

"Everything in a non-profit like this goes back to the kids," said Brake.

Seattle City Council candidate Burgess, who is running against incumbent David Della, said all three of his daughters played soccer on fields that are muddy. The brand new field at Loyal Heights shines in comparison.

"I support them (Ballard Junior Football-Knights) absolutely," said Burgess. "I was a cop. I saw what happens when kids don't have good positive role models, whether that's sports, youth organizations or church. Groups like the Knights are critical to our support of that."

Another sports parent is running for an open position on the city council. Venus Velazquez said she has a 6-year-old son who plays baseball with Rainier Little League.

"I want to hear from the parents," Velazquez said. "I want to understand in a lot more depth. I can understand from the parent point of view and also having been a neighborhood planner, I understand the neighborhood perspective too."

She experienced the impact of the new sports field for herself.

"Just coming out here tonight, you can't even drive down the first two streets," she said. "There is an impact. You can't dismiss the impacts. How does the City Council look at both of these seriously and respect both positions, the use of the field and the impact on the neighborhood."

Harrell played football as member of the University of Washington Huskies.

"I want the public to understand the value of a thriving youth sports program," said Harrell, Velazquez's opponent. "We are changing lives right now. These kids will always have these memories, so we have to find a solution that provides the success of this program."

Harrell said he is not insensitive to the traffic concerns, but didn't have a solution. He said if elected, it would be his job to find one.

League leaders are also worried they could end up spending more money paying for football officials because they would stand around for an hour waiting for the next game to start. The league scholarship program would be in danger and players will be turned away with less revenue, they said.

Revenues would also suffer if teams were forced to play more games on the road instead of at Loyal Heights, their home field since 1962.

The Ballard Little League also plays some of its games at the field.

"This is the only 90-foot field for big kids in the Ballard Little League, said John Verduin, president of the league.

Teams in the Ballard Little League's District Eight take turns hosting All-Star games.

"There are only so many 90-foot fields," said Verduin. "To take it out is to pinch the availability. There only so many."

Parent Mickey Niland said it would be difficult for the baseball teams to play all its regular season games without Loyal Heights.

"It's (sports participation) the best part of some kids' days," said Niland. "For them it's the Super Bowl, the seventh game of the World Series."

Brake has had three children in the football program. Three of the teams are undefeated, heading into next week's playoffs.

"They learned how to deal with winning and losing, mental preparation, focus and attitude," he said.