Proposed West Lake sports complex draws concern from neighbors
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A group of families in West Lake Hills has organized an effort to build a youth sports facility, but not all of their neighbors are happy with the plan.
"There's just no place for all of the sports activities in West Lake to play,” Angela Lancaster, a supporter of the park, said. “They're constantly fighting for fields."
Western Hills Little League wants to build on a fifty-acre plot near Bee Caves and River Hills roads currently owned by the Eanes Independent School District. It would feature eight baseball diamonds and eventually four multi-purpose fields, basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool and about 800 parking spaces.
But some residents are troubled. Opponents say traffic, noise and light pollution will spoil their neighborhood.
"Everybody wants a sports facility. I think the main argument here is that this is probably not the best site," neighbor Shannon O’Connor said. "I can't imagine multiple vehicles coming and going and doing it safely on a daily basis."
League President-Elect Chris Ellis is working on a compromise.
"We've limited the hours lights can be on. We've limited the hours the PA systems can be on,” Ellis said. "We feel like we've been really good neighbors in meeting with the neighborhood groups, listening to concerns, adjusting the plan where we can."
West Lake youth sports groups support it.
"All of the associations are on board from Pop Warner football to lacrosse to soccer to baseball to volleyball to basketball, they all have needs. We all have needs," Lancaster said.
Western Hills Little League has a 50-year lease on the property. They have already started raising money for the project and will start applying for construction permits in January.