Video: Battle over popular Seattle park

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SEATTLE - The battle over a popular Seattle park is shaping up as a showdown between soccer moms and roller derby queens.

Arena Sports, which runs Magnuson Park's popular soccer fields, wants to double its size and renovate Hangar 27, located next door.

Arena sports will invest $6 million, providing new soccer, basketball and baseball fields for its customers. In exchange it wants a 30-year lease from the city.

"What a public-private partnership does is bring new services to a community that wouldn't otherwise be here," said Don Crowe, spokesperson for Arena Sports.

But there are more than a dozen other community groups that also use Hangar 27, and they're concerned that if soccer expands, they'll get the boot.

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The Rat City Rollergirls oppose Arena Sports' plans for Hangar 27.

Among them are Seattle's Rat City Roller Girls, whose members fear that a corporate takeover would deal another blow to Seattle's famously diverse culture.

"Those small communities are left trying to find new spaces and if they can't find the space they're not gonna hold the event," said Megan Twibell.

The Seattle City Council is considering the Arena Sports proposal.

Opponents like David Lefebvre say the privatization of public parks could close prime pieces of property off to most taxpayers.

"Private money has to make money and that ends up making things out of reach for different people," he said. "Accessibility diminishes."

But Hangar 27 is currently empty after being shut down by the city for safety reasons late last year. Arena Sports says its renovation plan is a perfect solution to keep the building open.