Open Letter to 19th District Agricultural Association Board of Directors,
In advance of your March 20 meeting, I am writing on behalf of the nonprofit youth flag football league here in town called Santa Barbara Friday Night Lights. Our program is for every child in grades K-10th and includes an All-Girls League, Coed League, as well as a Cheer Program. Our program is about allowing kids to have fun playing flag football with their friends, neighbors, and classmates in a safe and healthy environment.
Every season, Santa Barbara Friday Night Lights has to close our registration due to the limited fields available to us. Each year, there are hundreds of boys and girls in grades K-10, from Goleta to Montecito, who we have to turn away since we are unable to accommodate them due to the lack of field space here in Santa Barbara. The emails we get from families disappointed that their child is unable to participate in our program are gut-wrenching. The last couple of years have been extremely difficult on our youth, and not being able to provide them with an outlet to run, play, and be a part of a team is very disappointing.