A proposed new parking lot has several Ames children and parents upset over the loss of a neighborhood play area.

The Ames Community School District is considering adding to a parking lot in the Wilson-Beardshear neighborhood.

A rally was held at the Wilson-Beardshear park Sunday to inform residents about the situation. Several people in the neighborhood voiced their complaints over the plan.

“I think the whole thing is really stupid. We can’t have our base where we need it [and] we keep tripping over the fence they put up,” said 8-year-old Dana Riecken, a frequent user of the baseball field.

His older sister also disagrees with the proposal. “The diesel stinks. Those buses are really loud sometimes,” said 15-year-old Mary Riecken.

The Rieckens aren’t the only ones who will miss the grassy space.

“It was kind of sad when we found out about it because there are so many kids who play here. It’s a good place to play tag because it is a big area,” said 11-year-old Elizabeth Vetter.

The reason for paving the area is to give Nancy Kurrle, teacher and director of the ECO program, a more convenient place to park the bus she uses in her daily work routine.

ECO is an ecosystem program. Kurrle picks up kids from all the Ames elementary schools and takes them to different nature fields in the area.

“The ECO program began about 25 years ago,” said Ralph Farrar, deputy superintendent of schools. “The program provides kids with field experience … The bus serves as a moving laboratory.”

Roger Riley, resident of the Wilson-Beardshear neighborhood, said, “The field is well-used for a neighborhood park, especially when the weather is nice.”

He said there is no other facility nearby for the kids to play safely in.

“We pay the administration well to come up with creative solutions,” said Jean Carter, resident of the area. “We just want them to explore alternative sites.”

One option is to continue parking the bus at the Lincoln Building, but that is inconvenient for Kurrle. Another option being considered is parking the bus at a maintenance building, but officials say that also has drawbacks.

“There will be some grass left, but in the overall picture, we feel like it’s a wasteful use of resources,” Riley said.

The issue will be discussed at the Ames school board meeting tonight at 6:30 in the Multi-purpose Room at Ames High School.