Neighbors press Wantagh board over proposed 80‑foot stadium lights donation from East Coast Soccer Club

Two neighbors told the Wantagh Board of Education on April 3 that proposed stadium lighting and prior facility changes have significantly degraded their quality of life and asked the board for more transparency and involvement in decisions affecting adjacent backyards.

“Just imagine if somebody came into your backyard and decided to put up stadium lights and light up your whole backyard,” Maureen O’Donnell said during public comment, raising concerns about parking, noise, music and privacy. Another neighbor described repeated disturbances from existing bleachers and a press box, garbage thrown into a backyard and electric transformers placed near the property line.

Superintendent John McNamara answered during the public comment response period: the board accepted a donation from East Coast Soccer Club in January for lights, he said, but there is no signed contract and terms of use are still being negotiated. McNamara described the proposed installation as four 80‑foot LED poles—one at each corner of the field outside the track—with what he said are minimal light spillage values based on a prior lighting company model and a drone demonstration at a comparative site. He said current electrical capacity is sufficient and that existing security lights the district has used are older and problematic.

McNamara acknowledged the neighbors’ concerns about increased evening field use, parking and noise if lights lead to more events. He said any expanded use would be permit driven and that details about hours and third‑party use remain to be determined. The district offered to continue discussions with the residents and to include them in dialogue while noting planning sessions are open but typically do not include public participation.

Why this matters: Neighbors said past facility upgrades—aluminum bleachers and an elevated press box—have already produced persistent noise and privacy impacts, and they fear donated lights could substantially increase evening activity. The district emphasized that installation and use terms are not finalized and that the lights were only one part of ongoing discussions with the donor organization.

What remains undecided: the transcript records no signed agreement or specific schedule for field rentals; the board has accepted the donation in principle but has not finalized terms or permits. Neighbors requested a full schedule of events and clarity about any contract with the donor; the district said it will continue the conversation and that permits would govern field usage.

McNamara invited residents to follow up with district staff and said administrators are willing to continue outreach and meetings.