Concern Over Mosle Field Lighting Project Sparks Discussion At Mendham Meeting

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham sports community members have been advocating for increased street lighting in and around Mosle Field, but some Mendham residents are concerned about the potential environmental impacts of the new lights on the land.

The township recently heard and discussed a lighting proposal to spend $880,000 on upgrades at Mosle Fields, which would include new lighting on Mosle Field's football field, baseball field and parking lot.

Mendham Township Parks and Recreation Director David Guida addressed the committee, stating that the project had been in the works for several years but got pushed back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Feb. 14 committee meeting, local resident Mark Trokan expressed his concerns about the use of Mosle Field as an athletic space.

"This project with the lights up in Mosle, I understand that there are sports teams there now, that, within the last three years, have started to use it. This has traditionally been a preserve... Only recently has that become a regular practice area," Trokan said.

Mosle Field is a 120-acre park at the top of Hunters Glen Road that the township purchased in 2008. The preserve now has a football and baseball field, as well as hiking trails in the surrounding woods.

Trokan urged the committee to consider environmental protection when planning future development. He contended that converting an environmentally sensitive area into a regular practice field goes against the community's traditional nature and character.

In response, Randy Lee, a local football coach in the township, provided his own statement, saying that some of the information about the project was being, "blown out of proportion."

Lee claims that the proposal would only benefit the existing lighting system, which is made up of ten diesel-powered portable 20-foot light stands, that have lights shining out into the woods.

"We're really not proposing a big change here, we're not proposing a whole new stadium, a whole new turf field and all that stuff. We are just talking about lights. We are in desperate need," Lee said.

According to Guida, the Recreation Committee has been working with the sports leagues to replace their portable diesel-fueled lights in the parking lot and field with 90-degree downstream lights. The committee is also collaborating with the township engineer to determine whether we can use green energy sources.

The Mendham Township Recreation Committee is hosting another listening session about this project to help facilitate conversations between the recreation committee and concerned neighbors concerned about environmental impacts on the preserve.

The listening session will be held on Monday, Feb. 20, at 3 p.m. at the Brookside Community Club, 1 East Main Street, Brookside. The meeting's purpose will be to update the community on the project's status and to continue soliciting feedback from residents.