Petition to Light Memorial Field Live

According to the Morristown Football Boosters Club, the time has come for lights to be installed at Memorial Field at Morristown High School. To that end, they have put together a petition to get the job done.

“Morristown High School has a distinct advantage in being at the center of town,” the petition reads. “It is why Morristown is chosen for the upcoming College Football Recruitment Night, and other various tournaments and events. It's why Morristown was chosen to host the NJ Suburban Youth Football League playoffs. The bid for the Wildcat's final game is in jeopardy because there aren't lights at MHS. Enough! This is a lot of good exposure and money for the community down the drain. Not to mention that a turf field without lights defeats the whole purpose of turf.”

The petition seems to be gaining momentum, with many signees leaving comments of support:

• As a former Colonial athlete I would have loved to play under the lights. Morristown High School needs lights as it would bring more money into the school and community. People absolutely love night games. There is nothing like it as an athlete to play in front of your home crowd under the lights.
• Much needed investment to leverage a great facility
• We have a beautiful turf field! We need to be able to use it day or night ~ there is no reason why a school such as ours cannot utilize their field for night games, especially considering we are so fortunate to have such a terrific turf field advantage! LIGHT UP MHS!
• This is a need for all MHS sports. Our kids need to leave as soon as sunlight leaves which ours them at a disadvantage in training and hosting night games.
• Let's make our school competitive.
• It continues to surprise me that a few politicians in town acquiesce to a handful of nay-sayers that think putting lights on our field will destroy the remnants of a once bucolic residential area now surrounded by high-rise apartments, commercial buildings and rental properties. I pay my 21st century real estate taxes, but my son can't play on a 21st century field...even Cass Tech has lights!!!
• Lights will enhance the field and demonstrate a commitment to great facilities.
• Turf field with lights will be an asset for MHS and will open up more opportunities for the scheduling of games/events.
• Every other high school has lights. Let's get with the times. Just because there are houses by the school doesn't mean they can protest it forever. Someone's got to stand up and do the right thing and gets those lights. The pros far outweigh any cons. It's been far too long of a fight.
• The Friday night HS football game is a tradition across our country that brings communities together. As an MHS alum and now father to a student athlete, I can say without a doubt that being able to host evening games is an asset to any school and surrounding community
• Please know that I support an illuminated field. To that end advances by lighting engineering has made the installation cost, and operation cost effective. Similarly the lighting design can be detailed to be sensitive to neighboring properties, yet effective for field use.

Tell us: Where do you stand? Will you sign the petition? Will you help light the night for Morristown athletics? Or do you feel it is a needless expense? Tell us in our comments.