Warrington soccer club presses board to revisit 2021 dark‑skies declaration; supervisors ask solicitor for written opinion

Residents and youth‑sports volunteers urged the Warrington Township Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 to reconsider a 2021 dark‑skies declaration that currently prohibits lighting at township parks, and the board voted to request a written legal opinion on whether and how the recorded declaration can be amended or terminated.

Jim Fagan, fields coordinator for the Warrington Soccer Club, said the prohibition—adopted in 2020/2021—has prevented temporary and permanent lighting at IPW Park and contributed to declining participation. "We will take on all financial responsibilities," Fagan said, asking the board to allow modern, dark‑skies‑compliant fixtures that his club says would reduce light spill and protect wildlife while expanding practice hours.

Rachel Cleary, a club board member, told supervisors the restriction limits scheduling and forces families to join clubs in neighboring townships. Lisa Dietz and Boski Patel, other residents and club volunteers, described seasonal impacts and gave a numerical estimate of hours of potential light use to argue that the change would affect only a small share of total annual nighttime hours.

Brian Kelly, the Park & Recreation liaison, recounted reviewing the 2021 recording and said the board at the time appeared to choose a more restrictive path; he urged the board to consider whether the recording was intended to be permanent. Several supervisors said no environmental impact study was done before the recorded restriction and that the current language reads like a covenant recorded with property—a restriction that could require court action to change.

Township Solicitor (Mr. Garton) advised that the recorded declaration likely requires a court petition to amend or terminate and suggested providing a written opinion documenting the declaration’s history, the legal criteria for amendment or termination, and potential procedural and financial implications. The board moved to direct the solicitor to research the file history and deliver a written opinion; the motion passed, with one supervisor recording an abstention for conflict of interest.

The action does not change the declaration; it directs legal staff to outline options and constraints for the board to consider. Residents and soccer‑club volunteers asked the board to explore dark‑skies‑compliant lighting options that vendors like Musco Lighting say can limit spill and timing, and supervisors suggested further outreach, impact analysis and a formal legal pathway before any changes are contemplated.