Reasons against Glenbard lights

Months ago, my husband and I heard about controversial proposed upgrades to Memorial Field at Glenbard West. With no opinion, we attended a meeting at Glen Ellyn Village Hall to better understand the issues.

We learned about proposals to install six 70-foot-tall light towers, 250 stadium seats and loudspeaker system, to extend evening hours of field usage, to lease space to outside groups for revenue, and to pave over a small, historic park (Soldiers’ Memorial) to create a new parking lot.

We’ve since attended many meetings: Glenbard West High School, where issues were debated by everyone from homeowners to teen athletes themselves, meetings at village hall, and at-home group meetings with homeowners in opposition (“Our Field Our Town” (OFOT) — surprised to learn they are primarily parents whose teenagers have or are attending Glenbard West.

OFOT bases their opposition on research and surveys. Safety is their paramount concern, not just conjecture, but professional opinion. (As a former safety specialist, this had me at hello.) Additional concerns: property devaluation, impact on Glen Ellyn lifestyle/ historic ambience deterioration, future homeowner property tax impact, etc.

Reports and survey results are available on their website, and OFOT prepared yard signs reading, “Say No to Lights at West.” Signs immediately began disappearing. (Our sign was gone two days after posting.) Over 150 were stolen; teens thought to be removing them, some captured on video.

Safety is a huge enough issue unto itself. Additionally, Glen Ellyn is an 1834 Midwest slice of Americana, and as property owners, we’re caretakers now. OFOT surveys are so compelling, it’s reminiscent of the adage, “My mind’s made up — don’t confuse me with the facts.”

With safety, property values, ambience, history and residential property taxes at issue, we feel there’s just too much at stake.

Mary Beth Speer

Glen Ellyn