Edgewood Stadium Controversy

Homeowners surrounding Edgewood High School are on a mission.  They are opposing the proposed new football stadium that would include adding seating, lights and a sound system to the practice field that already exists.  Local residents are concerned about the noise, light pollution and extra traffic and parking issues that 6-8 night high school football games will mean for the neighborhood.

Others in the area, and beyond, have concerns about what the added light and noise will mean for wildlife living along Lake Wingra and in the nearby arboretum.

I think it would be great if Edgewood had a "home" field.  They currently play homes games at Middleton High School.  The same is true of West High School; their home games are played at Mansfield Stadium at Memorial High School.  Neither school has a true "home" field.  It is certainly hard to distinguish a "home" game from an "away" game when you share a field with another school.

That being said, I do have some concerns with the proposed new stadium.  When Edgewood installed the current practice field several years ago, they assured the neighborhood that the field was just for practice, there would not be any high school games played on the field.  They have changed their tune, which is my concern.  It's a slipperly slope.  Six-eight night football games each fall turns into evening soccer games a few times a week in the spring and fall.  And what about Lacrosse games?

I'm still on the fence and I can see both sides of the issue.  Time will tell where this issue lands.  What are your thoughts?