Under the Lights

The future is looking bright at East Hampton High School: On June 6, the East Hampton School Board voted to allow the installation of lights on the high school’s athletic turf field. To be more precise, the board voted to allow district resident John Edwards to raise funds for the lights, which would be LED style.

Friday night lights, and sports played beneath them, is an American tradition. We can recall in years past when the school district would bring in portable lights for special evening events, like a homecoming game played on a crisp, fall night. It was a cause for excitement and gave the students a taste of the camaraderie and school spirit that many of us remember from our own youth.

It also brought out not just the athletes but the cheerleaders, dance team, members of the band and many students, some of whom came with their parents in tow, and those parents found that they were able to socialize with other parents in a new and different setting, one that didn’t involve bumping into each other at a coffee shop or passing in the hallways on curriculum night.

While many at the recent School Board meeting endorsed the idea of lights on the field, not everyone was thrilled. The need for increased security was one of the concerns raised, given that, at times, there are already people seen using the field who are obviously not students. Other residents who live adjacent to the field also expressed worries about an increase in noise and other disruptions if the lights are installed.

We understand their trepidation. But this is an idea whose time has come. We live at the end of an island — a long one, to be precise. With teams being forced to travel farther than ever in order to meet their opponents, getting to and from the East End in a timely matter can be a challenge. Compound those distance issues with the current school bus driver shortage, horrendous traffic problems on the East End, and the sun setting early in the fall, and you can see that having the option to play games after dark is vital to our athletes.

When it comes to the lights, there is a way to make this work. The school district should adhere to a specific schedule that spells out exactly when the lights can be used, by which teams and for how long. It’s also important that the district increase security to monitor the field and ensure that it is being used by teams affiliated with the school.

The district must stay in communication with the neighbors throughout the process. A healthy and open dialogue is ultimately what will make the addition of lights on the field a success, and the willingness and ability of the district to adjust the manner in which they are used, if necessary, to address any problems that may arise is crucial.

But it’s important to emphasize: Lights don’t just bring problems. They can bring a new sense of community and will deliver on providing a safe and workable plan for the district’s sports teams.

All in all, it sounds like a bright idea.