Open space refuges are essential for resilience.

We need open space as a place to reconnect and reflect, contemplate and create. Our homes and neighborhood parks should be places for peaceful interaction with family and friends, free from constant loud noise and air pollution. Those refuges are under assault.

Excessive noise at all hours over our homes, open space trails, and parks, especially from low flying aircraft, is debilitating. You can feel the harm to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Imagine the impact aircraft noise has on animals and birds, who rely on quiet spaces to communicate, locate mates and prey, and raise their young.

The science around the destructive impact of noise on wildlife and on human populations is alarming. Studies have shown that aircraft noise increases the incidence of cardiovascular disease, sleep deprivation, anxiety and depression in the general population. Children suffer from excessive noise in academic performance. The battle to reduce or eliminate tourist flights over our national parks, due to the harm caused to wildlife and park visitors, demonstrates the need to address excessive aircraft noise from piston-engine aircraft flying constant training operations low over our public open space and neighborhoods.

The noise and safety risks are compounded by nano particulate air pollution (including lead and other toxic pollutants) from piston-engine airplane exhaust. People exposed to low levels of lead, especially children, have been shown to suffer neurological and cognitive impairment, including IQ loss. We eliminated lead from other fuel sources long ago, yet piston-engine planes used for flight school training are the largest remaining source of lead emissions.

Cities have failed to regulate these destructive impacts coming from their airports, and the FAA has created a lawless regulatory environment that allows the harm to continue unabated. Communities need to band together to restore healthy skies and lead-free air to our neighborhoods, and our open space.

Resilient Community Network is pursuing innovative legal strategies to change this destructive path we are on. Community involvement, through donations and creative actions, will help us achieve our goals.