The below represents an e-mail update sent 8/5/26 by a few households to concerned neighborhood residents requesting updates.
Good afternoon,
A newly published Charlotte Ledger article provides additional insight into DYSA's long-term vision for the Pinewood adjacent property and raises several important questions.
Friday: We understood DYSA was reconsidering an application for two fields.
Monday: A Charlotte Ledger article describes a much broader vision, including Madison Central Park becoming a DYSA HUB with additional infrastructure such as concessions and an equipment building.This is far beyond even their original contract of three fields and batting cages.
The article also explains that DYSA is pursuing this project because it has run out of field space and is seeking a long-term home rather than continuing to share fields elsewhere.
DYSA has made it clear to neighborhood representatives and in this article that the proposal is being driven by the league's need for additional field capacity, not a demonstrated need within our community.
At this point, we simply do not know whether the article reflects DYSA's long-term vision or whether a larger proposal is being presented with the expectation of ultimately negotiating down to a smaller project. We believe the community deserves clarity.
Despite months of neighborhood outreach after survey stakes first appeared, we still have not received:
Traffic impact study
Parking analysis
Stormwater evaluation
Noise analysis
Wildlife assessment
Enrollment data showing who would actually benefit from this project
DYSA has confirmed that none of the above have been conducted as of last Friday and we received no commitment to the studies being completed.
Independent studies should objectively demonstrate whether this project would maintain—or negatively affect—traffic, parking, stormwater, noise, and the surrounding environment.
We have repeatedly requested data showing:
The number of Pinewood students currently enrolled in DYSA.
The number of enrolled children currently living within the Madison Park attendance boundary.
During recent discussions, we were told Pinewood enrollment in DYSA is "close to zero", yet the requested enrollment data has still not been provided.
If this proposal is truly intended to primarily serve the surrounding community, that benefit should be measurable.
These are reasonable questions that deserve objective, data-driven answers before decisions are made. At this point we do not have the data to even support one field.
One additional fact readers may wish to know: the Charlotte Ledger article was written by intern Emily Brietz, whose father, Jay Brietz, serves as a DYSA division commissioner. We believe readers should have that context when evaluating an article that primarily presents DYSA's perspective.
A quote from the article: "The park is CMS property and has 'an unusual amount of open space' and flat land perfect for a baseball field, Pineno said."
This is not based on data and is highly subjective. It is important to note that the open space there has decreased by 68% since 2010 and this area is 53% smaller than the average DYSA multi-field site.
The article states that DYSA has been engaging with the community. The timeline tells a different story. It took months of neighborhood outreach before we were given a seat at the table. Now, just days after we were told a resubmission would be modified in scope, DYSA is publicly describing Pinewood as a long-term hub. The community deserves clarity and input with respect to the actual vision for this site.
We have requested that the studies and enrollment data be provided before any community meeting so residents can review the information in advance. To date, fulfilling the requests has not been committed to.
Thank you for continuing to stay informed and engaged.