As a freshman student, I had less than a year at Indian Hills to appreciate the diverse nature on our campus. This fall, behind the IHHS fields were lush trees with a picturesque walking trail, an outdoor classroom, and a canopy for high ropes. Now, during the spring the beautiful nature that used to surround these amenities has been stripped away. The construction taking place in what used to be nearly 40 acres of greenery and trees is for the purpose of developing a new housing complex, including a section of affordable housing. I understand how valuable of a contribution this is to the Oakland community, especially keeping in mind North Jersey’s reputation for being densely populated. It is critical that future generations look towards ways of reducing congestion of substandard housing, and, in some cases, building more affordable living spaces is a viable solution.
However, was this the case for property so nearby Indian Hills High School? I cannot ignore the impact that this construction will have on the environment and the Indian Hills student body. On a larger scale, deforestation is at the forefront of our generation’s environmental concerns. As more housing is being built, natural resources are increasing in demand, which in turn places an enormous strain on the environment and directly results in the displacement of animal and insect populations. I am forced to ask myself what happened to all of the animals and insects that called these former forests their home? They were not evacuated, they were not warned, they were not compensated for their loss—one day they had a home and the next they did not.
If the loss of animal habitats is not a convincing enough argument, then I implore all those reading to consider the impact that this construction will have on the student body. The students at Indian Hills have become so accustomed to roof work that when the earthquake with a magnitude of about 4 struck on April fifth, I remember my class unknowingly excusing the event as a commonplace disturbance. I can only imagine the amount of disturbances and pollution this new, more expansive construction sight will cause. An increase in noise pollution, a reduction in air quality, and an increase in light pollution are serious concerns to the welfare of Indian Hills students and the quality of their learning environment. While students inside the building may have temporary solace from the distractions, how can we guarantee the safety and health of students participating in outdoor activities on Hank Boggio Field?
As I walk on the nature trail with my PE class during the first period, I am heartbroken by the view from behind the fields. I look out towards a vast expanse of dead branches, obtrusive machinery and dejected stumps in the place of what used to be an outdoor classroom for teachers and a relaxing nature walk for students. Without a protective barrier, students participating in high ropes nearest the hazardous construction site, and students walking on the track or playing sports on the field have nothing to block the bright early morning sun from their eyes. The construction site taking place behind Indian Hills is a distraction to students, an endangerment to those participating in outdoor activities, and marks the destruction of a natural habitat. I can only look towards this development with remorse for what was taken away.
