Valley Stream Soccer Club seeking nighttime practice space

The Central High School District and the Valley Stream Soccer Club are working in conjunction to find a solution to an ongoing lighting issue at Central High School in order to create a safe environment for children to play soccer after dark.

At the district’s Dec. 6 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Bill Heidenreich announced that he was forming a committee to reach a solution. He said the committee would include himself, Board of Education Trustee John Maier and representatives of the soccer club. VSSC President Timmy Graham said he met with Heidenreich on Dec. 12 to further the discussions about practicing at Central High School.

“The meetings that I’ve had with the superintendent have been absolutely positive,” Graham said. “The board and the superintendent are absolutely on board to do what’s best for the children of the soccer club.”

According to Graham, the current overhead lights at the school go out regularly because the breakers pop due to faulty wiring on the ground. Heidenreich said the lights are fully operational, but aren’t meant for soccer.

“The lights in the parking lot are functional and they’re for parking,” Heidenreich said. “Parking lot lights are meant for parking so that people can walk to their cars safely when they park. They’re not for soccer and not for sports.”

The board turned down a proposal to allow the club to use generator lights in 2014 because of their concerns about disturbing neighboring homes and discerning where to store them. The generator lights, which are about 25 feet high, are commonly used and run on diesel fuel.

After the denial, the soccer club spent $20,000 on 12-foot tall tripod lights, which house broad LED bulbs. The lights were used for a full spring season and for the majority of the fall without the approval of school administrators. When the Board of Education learned of this in November, Heidenreich said he contacted the soccer club and said they can’t use them anymore due to safety concerns.

“You have to be very careful that the outside group is using them properly,” Heidenreich said of the soccer club. “Because we don’t want them falling on a child or a car.” He also said having an outside group using gasoline could lead to issues in the future.

The soccer club finished the final two weeks of the season at Barrett Park, where they used their portable lights. Graham said they couldn’t move games there permanently due to schedule conflicts with other sports organizations.

Heidenreich said that he’s optimistic that potential solutions would be discussed at the schools’ February meeting. “We’re trying to come to a conclusion that works for everyone,” Heidenreich said. “Kids playing … and not disturbing our neighbors, which is what we want.”