Driving by Manorhaven Park, it's not unusual to see small children from the local sports clubs playing on the athletic field as late as 9 at night. The reason that they are there so late is that there aren't enough athletic fields in town to accommodate all the kids who want to play. The first teams start in the late afternoon and then more teams take turns into the late evening. Nine is too late for small kids to be out on a weeknight. Ideally, all the field activities would end around 7 so that we could all get home for supper, but play is extended to give everyone a chance to participate. Sunset today, 10/24, will be at 6:01 p.m. When this letter is published, it will be at 5 p.m. In the fall, when the sun sets early, Manorhaven Park has the only field with night lighting that will allow continued play, so it is used late into the evening.

We need more useable athletic fields. Part of the solution is install lights at some of the school fields for evening play. That would at least allow us to finish all the games (and turn off the lights) by early evening. Using part of the Guggenheim property for athletic fields would provide even more space, allowing all the kids to get home at a reasonable hour.

It is very disturbing to me that I still see letters and e-mails that describe the PAL, PYA and PWSC as alien entities using the school fields. These local organizations serve the needs of this community's children at a small fraction of what it would cost the school district to provide comparable services. The school playing fields are held in trust by the district to provide our children with recreational space. It is the responsibility of the BOE (board of education) to assure that the fields are made available to appropriate groups, such as the PAL, PYA and PWSC, to serve our children.

Whether or not we use the Guggenheim property for playing fields, the BOE needs to respond to this need in some way. I had hoped to say this at the BOE meeting on 10/21, but I couldn't stay long enough for the public comment period, which, as I understand, finally came at 11 p.m. In closing, I'd like to thank all the BOE and school administrators for all the time that they dedicate to solving these difficult problems.

Robert T. Schill