We applaud the common-sense perspective offered by Jeffrey S. Grashel in his April 25 letter, “Racing could work at Cooper Stadium.” His perspective is shared by an overwhelming majority of residents in the area immediately surrounding Cooper Stadium.

With extensive noise barriers as proposed by the developer, noise emissions from the planned handful of race events would be less than or comparable to highway noise levels already present in the area. More important, we recognize the economic benefits and educational opportunities to be provided by the Cooper Park Complex, including its automotive-research and technical-training center.

It appears at this point that opposition is limited primarily to certain residents and real-estate agents in German Village, even though computer modeling of noise shows no impact to any areas east of the Scioto River. While such resistance may not be surprising, given the tremendous amounts of misinformation being circulated and the fact that German Village residents generally have less need for the hundreds of jobs to be created, we would encourage the area commissions to give priority to the needs of Franklinton and southwest Columbus.

The voices of those neighborhoods deserve to be heard over the din coming from east of I-71.

RAY and HELEN NOLTEMEYER

Columbus