Concerns raised over NEISD sports complex

An 80-acre sports complex, to be built on heavily-treed land over the aquifer recharge zone, is included in the Northeast School District's bond proposal that voters are asked to approve on May 12th. The complex will include a 10,000 seat football and soccer stadium, a 1,500 seat baseball stadium, and a 2,500 vehicle parking lot.

Concerns have been raised over the massive tree destruction and high levels of impervious cover that such a facility will require. Moreover, the land is near critical endangered species habitat surrounding Black Cat Cave.

Site of proposed NEISD sports complex

NEISD's record on tree preservation is substandard, and it is likely the sports complex will be exempt from the tree ordinance. NEISD recently removed, from its website, photographs showing massive tree destruction on the Claudia Taylor Ladybird Johnson High School construction site.

Plans for Northeast's Wilderness Oak Elementary called for destruction of 90% of the heritage trees. Another school was so poorly adapted to its site, construction required over $2.5 million worth of grading and filling, according to a City engineer.