Former U.S. Surgeon General William H. Stewart said, “Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience. Noise must be considered a hazard to the health of people everywhere.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that noise pollution is “an increasing public health problem.”
At the recent World Health Organization Ministerial Conference, the Environmental Burden of Disease project declared noise the No. 2 threat to public health, after air pollution.
Intrusive noise can lead to cardiovascular disease, sleep disruption, reduced productivity, impaired teaching and learning, absenteeism, increased drug use and accidents.
Noise can destroy the enjoyment of one’s property and leisure time. It adversely affects general health and well-being and increases anti-social behavior. Future generations are harmed by degraded home, social and learning environments, with corresponding economic losses.
Scientific warnings about the harms of noise are well known. So, it’s flabbergasting that the Broken Arrow City Council is planning a 12,500-seat outdoor amphitheater in an area surrounded by established residential neighborhoods. It’s impossible to have such a venue without damaging the lives of thousands of people nearby.
The track record of outdoor amphitheaters throughout the country should be sobering for those living within miles of Events Park.
When presented with the possibility of an amphitheater, Broken Arrow residents were concerned but meekly acquiesced when assured there would be no noise problems due to newer-style speakers that were directed away from them and sound walls.
In reality, neighbors are bombarded with hooting, yelling, chanting and amplified noise projected into their homes.
1st Example: From the beginning, neighbors of the amphitheater located at the Florida State Fairgrounds said noise is so intense, pictures rattle and they are forced to leave home. A mother living less than a mile away said crowd noise is audible even with windows closed.
The amplified noise creates headaches and keeps her husband and children awake. Despite legal actions by the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, noise problems continued.
2nd Example: The Mountain View, California, City Council rebuffed a request by Palo Alto to turn down the volume on their amphitheater, the source of noise that led to over 10,000 complaints during a decade the outdoor theater operated. Council members said they wouldn’t have the volume lowered because they weren’t convinced it would work.
3rd Example: Citizens of Costa Mesa, Calif., where amphitheater concerts generate dozens of noise complaints, were told there’s little, if anything, the city can do about it.
4th Example: Hundreds of residents of a formerly quiet rural/residential neighborhood near Austin have complained about amplified noise from a new 1,500-seat amphitheater. Neighbors say they can’t enjoy their backyards or even escape into their houses because of window rattling noise levels forced upon them on weekends, and sometimes two nights a weekend.
5th Example: In May, Jacksonville residents, whose neighborhoods have been tormented by loud concerts at Metro Park, began bracing for the opening of another outdoor concert venue.
Like the Virginia Beach residents, the St. Nicolas-area neighbors were told they wouldn’t be affected because speakers are aimed away from them. At this point, neighbors know the noise will be so loud, speaker siting is irrelevant.
6th Example: In Nashville, the city-owned amphitheater receives noise complaints from downtown condominium residents, from neighborhoods as far away as east Nashville and from businesses disrupted by daytime sound checks.
But apparently those battered neighbors were indifferent to the outdoor arena plan before it was built. The Nashville parks and recreation director said, “It’s like people are surprised that an outdoor amphitheater comes along with music and sound.”
Oklahoma City recently voted down the Sunset Amphitheater for the exact reasons listed herein.
Broken Arrow residents and area businesses are not oblivious to what it really means to have an outdoor amphitheater in an area surrounded by residential neighborhoods; as was evident when they showed up Jan. 9, 2024 for the informational forum to present its development plan and address questions/concerns of nearby residents.
This is not the time to tune out. If an outdoor amphitheater is built at Events Park, life will never be the same. When the amphitheater’s noise is projected into homes, there’s no stopping it. No amount of desperate noise complaints to police, no number of tearful pleas to City Hall will help.
Once the noise problems from outdoor amphitheaters begin, they are unsolvable and unending.
Good luck to homeowners trying to flee. The noise problem might be out of sight from potential home buyers but Realtors will be obligated to inform them about it.
Even a greatly reduced asking price might not be enough to unload a house in a neighborhood regularly blasted by intrusive amplified outdoor events.
Construction is set to begin June/July 2024!
Now is the time to tell Broken Arrow commissioners, “You cannot do this to us.” We must act before it’s too late.
Timeline per the City of Broken Arrow website:
March 5, 2024 – City agreed to sell 15.01 acres of land to Sunset at Broken Arrow, LLC for $577,314.62
March 5, 2024 – Planned Unit Development for the Sunset Amphitheater was approved by the council.
February 20, 2024 – Amendment to ordinance adding noises between the hours of 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., Sunday – Thursday for the Broken Arrow Events Park and amphitheater shall not be deemed violations of disturbing the peace.
February 8, 2024 – Planning Commission meeting including Public Hearing for Planned Unit Development and approval of use of the NSU parking lot.
I have considered standing on the sidewalk near the entrance of Events Park to protest and gain petition signatures. But as one person, I don’t feel that would be enough.
Tha If we unite and gain the support of: A-1 Mechanical Services, Coach Port, Midwest Mechanical, Inc., Molded Products, D&B Processing, Auto-turn Machine Shop, Refractory Anchors, Gavco Plastics, Builders Unlimited and Tulsa Metal Fab, I feel Broken Arrow City Councilors would have no choice but to listen.
If we can gain business support, teachers and parents from Rosewood Elementary along with area neighborhoods as a united front maybe our team spirit could thwart the amphitheater for live major musical acts on 13 acres near Events Park.
On a final note – a new three-lane road will be built between the amphitheater and Rosewood Elementary along with dedicated on and off ramps via the Creek Turnpike. The current South 219th East Ave. will be closed due to railroad law. This will of course affect all area businesses and employees.
— Robin Carpenter, Broken Arrow
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