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Hillsdale concerned about proposed field lighting
(by Kevin Glynn - April 09, 2008)
In an effort to quell concerns over proposed field lighting at
Pascack
Valley
High School, the Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education gave a short presentation at its meeting on Monday night.
Some residents in the community felt that the inclusion of field lighting, which appeared at the very end of the regional school’s 2008-2009 budget, presented to the public on March 24, was an underhanded move by the board in direct contrast to a failed referendum and another project proposed several years ago by
Bergen
County for a county sports complex. A few residents attended the Hillsdale Mayor and Council meeting on Tuesday, April 1, asking the governing body for support.
Superintendent Benedict Tantillo explained on Monday, April 7, however, that the field lighting had been proposed since 2005 when the turf field at
Pascack
Valley was first installed and that the taxpayers had already approved the funding for the lights in the 2007-08 school budget. He said that the district put in conduits for the lights three years ago when the turf field was installed.
According to Tantillo, four 80-foot high light poles located at the 20-yard lines of the football will be installed using Musco lighting which is designed so that there isn’t any “spillage” onto neighboring properties. Additionally, there are only a few houses on Colonial Boulevard actually neighboring the field. The rest of the property is surrounded by trees. The total cost of the project is estimated at $250,000, $30,000 to $40,000 of which will come from donations.
The lights will be used primarily in the fall and spring for football, soccer, and possibly lacrosse. Home football games would be played on Friday nights, and one soccer game a week would be played at night. Local recreation groups would also continue to have access to the fields, though Tantillo said that the district does not have any plans to allow more teams to use the field.
The lights will be turned off between 10 and 10:30 p.m. on nights when games are played and by 8 p.m. on nights when they are used for practices.
Tantillo also pointed out that fields at Beechwood and Centennial fields in Hillsdale currently have lights. “This is not a new thing for the town,” he said.
Following Tantillo’s presentation, the floor was opened to the public for comment. Athletic Director for
Pascack
Valley , Tom Gattoni, further explained the need for the lights. According to Gattoni, 42 percent of the student body participates in athletics, and the different teams in various seasons are all vying for time to practice on their game field.
“We have tried to split time as much as possible,” he said, adding that lights would improve the situation. “Field time for practice is almost non-existent.”
In a phone interview, Gattoni further explained that there are times, depending on the season, when conflicts do prevent practice. In the spring, for example, the track team isn’t able to practice when there is a lacrosse game.
“I just believe we really need this right now,” Gattoni said Monday night.
While a couple of residents also commented Monday night, explaining their concerns of increased use, garbage, and expenses, the dozens of student athletes and their families in the audience who were attending for awards presentations made for a decidedly pro-lighting audience, and much of the presentation and comments in favor of the lighting were welcomed with applause.
While the school district does not need the town’s approval for the project, a presentation will be made to the planning board at some point in the future further detailing the project.
Kevin Glynn's e-mail address is glynn@northjersey.com.
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