>Lights installed at Stevens Field in Ridgewood
Thursday, November 4, 2010
BY KELLY EBBELS
The Ridgewood News
Staff Writer
https://www.northjersey.com/news/106721683_Lights_installed_at_Stevens_Field_in_Ridgewood.html
Despite concerns from neighbors of Ridgewood High School (RHS) about their quality of life, the school district moved ahead this week to complete the installation of remaining flood lights above the school’s two athletics fields.
Seven remaining field lights between 70 and 80 feet tall were installed at Stevens Field earlier this week, despite a request from residents at last Wednesday’s Village Council meeting that a hearing be held on the installation and a stop-work order be issued. Four other light poles at Stadium Field were installed last month.
Superintendent Daniel Fishbein defended the installation, saying in an e-mail that the district has “a contract for installation in place and we are moving forward.”
Residents of the area were distressed by the news, saying that they had repeatedly reached out to the BOE to voice concerns about possible property devaluation due to the lights and increased traffic and parking in the area.
“I am very disappointed that the Board has proceeded to install these stadium-style lights for non-school teams without engaging in any discussion with its neighbors despite numerous attempts on our part to start the dialogue,” said Jim Morgan, a resident of Beverly Road and a founder of the Ridgewood High School Neighborhood Association (RHSNA), in an e-mail.
Cynthia Fitzgerald, a resident of North Irving Street, said that the decision to move ahead reflected an unwillingness of the BOE to engage with residents.
“It’s just in keeping with their attitude that they can do whatever they want to regarding the neighborhood,” she said. “As a lifelong resident of Ridgewood, I couldn’t imagine somebody would do something like this. & It looks like Giants Stadium right now.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/106721683_Lights_installed_at_Stevens_Field_in_Ridgewood.html
