I was dismayed to read in the Burbank Leader that the new construction of the John Burroughs High School Memorial Stadium and athletic fields has been postponed once again ("Stadium still standing," June 2). This is the third time that this vitally important communitywide project has been delayed.
Three years ago, residents across the city were thrilled when a joint committee of the City Council and the Burbank Unified School District announced the refurbishment of Memorial Stadium, and new construction of the athletic fields at both Burbank and John Burroughs high schools.
Excitement toward this project grew to a point where a fundraising committee, headed up by hard-working former Mayor Michael Hastings, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist the effort. Longtime Burbank businesses such as the Cusumano Family, the Walt Disney Co., the Burbank Healthcare Foundation and literally hundreds of residents stepped up and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars toward this effort. It was an exciting time for the city of Burbank.