Carol Stream soccer club can light practice field

A Carol Stream youth soccer club this week got the go-ahead from village officials to use temporary lighting to extend its practices into the night.

The Carol Stream Panthers are expected to begin using four temporary portable lights on a dry detention area the club uses as a practice field near Birchbark Trail and Kuhn Road.

The youth sports club uses the field, located near Friendship Park, as a practice area for roughly 250 youths registered for its soccer programming.

Neighbors living next to the property have complained recently about the afternoon traffic caused by parents dropping off and picking up kids from practices.

"When you consider it, the property has been pretty much dormant for many years and is just now seeing a more intense use," said Bob Mellor, the assistant village manager. "The soccer club recognized the issue and made some changes."

Village officials scheduled separate meetings in the last week with neighboring residents and the club organizers to lighten the traffic load in the neighborhood.

Mellor said the Panthers club could begin using the temporary lighting as soon as next week.

The lights would be used until 8 p.m. during the season and be focused away from nearby homes.

"Everyone understands the kids are the important story here," said Rick Mastroianni, a parent volunteer with the club. "But I understand how a neighborhood would feel about having so many kids at their park each night."