The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education’s vote last Thursday night to install lights at the school’s football field didn’t surprise many stadium neighbors.
“I would have been surprised if they voted the other way,” said Stephen Allsteadt, who with his wife Ellen lives across from the South Field near Linden Avenue.
After more than three hours of public comments and discussion, the board voted 4-3 to install lights at the stadium during a special meeting held in the high school’s third-floor library.
Board members Dietra Millard, Barry Greenwald and Barbara Fernandez voted against the resolution.
The meeting Thursday was tense and sometimes raucous as opponents in the audience shouted in opposition during remarks made by supporters during public comments.
During board discussions, one audience member angrily got up during Barry Greenwald’s remarks shouting, “This is a done deal. You’ve already made up your decision,” before storming out of the library.
Supporters, though, were vocal in their support, questioning some of the concerns raised by opponents.
“To the neighbors, and I mean no disrespect, your house is next to a football stadium; you should expect that there’s going to be crowds,” said OPRF student Luke Zavala. “I’ve seen some students who do drink at the stadium before Saturday
games. So are you saying that because students drink, we should eliminate Saturday games?”
“The students want the lights and what should be more important to the board of Oak Park and River Forest High School than what the students want and need?” said OPRF senior and co-president of the Huskie Athletic Council Jenny Donley, who organized a march of more than 150 students at the school in support of the lights.
The school will submit a proposal to the village board by late 2006, following a traffic and safety study at a cost of $12,000 to $14,000, also approved Thursday as part of the resolution. The study would take place this fall. The Booster Club has pledged to pay for the installation of lights.
Only varsity football games would be allowed under the lights, and up to two night games for the boys’ and girls’ soccer, lacrosse, and girls’ field hockey teams, according to the school’s proposal. The lights would be turned off at 8 p.m.
The plan also calls for a neighborhood advisory committee to meet with administration and at least one board member twice in the fall and spring to discuss stadium-related concerns.
Other measures included developing a security plan with the village and Oak Park police, and a litter control plan for all games.
But none of those issues satisfied neighbors, many of whom spoke during public comments along with supporters of lighting the stadium.
“We are very disappointed but we’re not surprised,” said Lane Hart, who lives on Linden Avenue, directly opposite the west end goalpost.
Before voting on the resolution, members listened to more than an hour of public comments from supporters and opponents and discussed the matter for roughly two hours.
Opponents said crime and juvenile delinquency would increase. Some also feared attracting criminal activity from people outside of Oak Park to night games.
“I feel that the board totally disregarded that and you could tell by their statements,” said Bill DePriest. “They made no mention of what was heard here tonight. It seems like they made up their minds before they came tonight and the public hearing was just a formality.”
Board members opposed to the plan voiced their concerns prior to casting their votes.
“It is really a matter of how it’s going to impact not just the immediate neighborhood but what impact it will make on the community,” said Millard. “It’s turned into a political brawl with people on this side and people on that side. We have had some wonderful dialogue and this is to be commended but I am worried about exactly what this is going to mean for us as a community.”
Barbara Fernandez also cited crime as a factor in her decision.
“Teenagers are teenagers. Young people don’t always make good decisions,” she said. “They’re going to test the limits. If I lived across the street from the high school, I would not want my health and safety jeopardized.”
But with the installation of lights at least a year or more away, according to the school’s plan, neighbors insist they’ll continue to fight against a lighted stadium.
“We will continue to remain vigilant against the lights and do whatever we can to prevent them from going up,” said Hart. “Exactly what that requires right now, we’re not quite sure.”
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com