Human costs crucial in garden debate

Much of the debate on the Naperville garden plot relocation has focused on the costs associated with all of these options and proposals, but no one has talked about the human costs. By that, I mean the cost to our student athletes.

It is undisputed that if our student athletes are forced to practice at fields

away from Naperville Central High School, travel time will conservatively add at least 60 minutes to their day. Our student athletes, ages 13 to 18, are in the prime of their physical growth and development. Being the parent of a fall sport student athlete, I know that my student athlete does not get home from practice until 6:30 or 7 p.m. By the time he eats dinner, does his homework and studies, he sometimes does not get to bed until 11 p.m. He has to rise by 6 a.m. for school.

Adding an hour or more a day to our student athletes' schedule places them in a

very unhealthy situation. Dinner is pushed back to 8 p.m., followed by homework and a bedtime closer to midnight. Now that student athlete is getting five to six hours of sleep per night, four to five days per week for 10 to 12 weeks out of the year while their sport is in season. You do not have to be a physician to know that this type of schedule is unhealthy.

It is obvious that the bussing of Naperville Central athletes to off-site practice fields is an option that should not be considered. Therefore, the community's No. 1 concern should be keeping our student-athletes as close to Naperville Central as possible. While the continued use of existing park district fields at Knoch Park is an option being considered, this option is shortsighted and does not serve the community as a whole, nor does it fulfill the certain needs for valuable practice field space in the future.

Paul Tanzillo

Naperville