How Late Should the Field Lights Stay On?

The protracted struggle between the wisdom of 10 p.m. light times may be soon finally be reaching its conclusion.

Some council and school board members have said they think from the current 9 p.m. time may be too much. Neighbors say the late time is far too excessive and would damage not just the character of a neighborhood but the sleep cycle of developing children.

have said recreation is just as important as sleep and serving the greater good would be to allow field use at a 'reasonable' hour, especially as most communities have even later end times and Ridgewood has more participants and even fewer fields with recent referendum construction.

Not extending hours would considerably exacerbate the problem, sports group organizers said. Programs if times remain.

Both the school board and village council need to agree to a change in the fields policy; the district is awaiting word from PSE&G on when the lights can be power up. Spring sports start in March so time is running out.

So, Ridgewood, where do you stand on this issue? Would 10 p.m. end times hurt those near Stevens, RHS Stadium and Vets irreparably?

Is it too late for kids, who neighbors say need sleep to develop?

Is denying later times doing the larger community a disservice by putting the requests of neighbors above the many more that may use the fields?