Lighting Approved for School’s Softball Field

The City Council will move ahead with a proposal to install lights at the softball diamonds at Niguel Hills Middle School, over the protests of nearby residents.

With a shortage of space in the city to build sports fields and participation in youth sports steadily increasing, there appears to be no alternative but to light the field, a majority of the council said.

“We wouldn’t be doing this if this wasn’t absolutely the last resort,” Councilman Mark Goodman said.

After listening to more than two hours of emotional testimony from residents, including supporters of the Laguna Niguel Girls Softball League and school neighbors, the council indicated it would fine-tune the lighting project and hear the proposal again Aug. 6.

City staff members unveiled changes from the original plans, including reducing some light poles from 80 feet to 50 feet.

It wasn’t nearly enough for residents who complained of potential light glare, noise and parking problems they said would result from allowing night play.

“I’m not objecting to the poles; I’m objecting to the noise, light and the intrusion,” resident Bill Wood said.

Councilman Eddie Rose, the lone dissenter, said the “impact will be seen, not only by the neighbors, but also everyone around” the school.

Several supporters of girls softball asked the council to install the lights in order to satisfy the ever-growing enrollment in the league.

“It’s very difficult to get playing time now with the existing teams that we have,” said Joe Garcia, who said he has coached in the league for six years. “If we add another five or 10 teams, it’s getting to the point where we can’t get onto the field.”