Toss-up: Residents Half For, Half Against Overhead Lights at Little League Field

Lights or no lights at the North Canton Little League fields? It's a true toss-up. 

Twenty-two people spoke at North Canton's public hearing regarding proposed overhead lights, and of those 22 people, 11 were for and 11 were against the addition of the lights.

Now, North Canton City Council awaits a rundown of information from the Little League directors, including when the lights will be in use.

"What I asked to happen is that the directors of the Little League submit to us ... a request of hours they would potentially light the field and what they would do about the loud speaker system and the parking … so we can look at all that," Snyder said, adding council will meet with the board of directors Feb. 19.

That's right; North Canton residents didn't just raise issues with the lights, which they thought might create a nuisance to those who live nearby. Residents also raised concerns with the speaker system as well as lack of parking, which would be compounded if athletes would be playing later into the night.

At council's Jan. 14 meeting, residents said nighttime play would increase the number of cars in the parking lot, which fills quickly, causing people to park illegally in the neighborhoods and walk to the ball fields. It would also mean they would hear the loud speaker after dark.

"Really, more than the lights, are the underlying issues with the parking and problem it creates, along with the loud speaker system," Snyder said. "I think that, for the residents, if we address those problems, they would be more inclined to consider — not that they would embrace it — lighting those fields."

The lights would be a change to the current lease, which did not include overhead lighting.

Council members originally thought the lights would only be at one field (field No. 8), but now they said field Nos. 1, 2 and 8 would potentially get lights.

The cost would be covered by the North Canton Little League.