Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Westporter Karl Davis.
After nearly five months of debate in Planning and Zoning on adding 70-foot stadium lights at Wakeman Fields, we are left with a basic, unanswered question: Who are these lights for? We know who won’t be using them much: our schools.
Parks & Rec has requested lights as late as 10:30 PM, but Staples’ head soccer coach says he never wants his athletes on the field past 8 PM, and rightly questions why user groups haven’t been brought together to establish a reasonable schedule.[1] So, if the school teams don’t want these late hours, why is Parks fighting so hard to keep them?
The answer is Parks’ private funding approach, which has created conflicting interests. When asked by P&Z whether Parks might consider shorter hours for the lights, Director Erik Barbieri said donors needed to “maximize the investment,” and if P&Z limits the hours too much, he “wouldn’t even bother doing it” – a frank admission that the project’s goal is to satisfy private financers, not public need.[2] When infrastructure is funded by private donation, the public interest is sidelined. And, despite Mr. Barbieri’s more recent insistence that youth groups will raise the funds for these lights, the reality is that late-night field slots are not likely to be used by Westport schools or Rec teams, but instead as prime rental inventory for private, elite player development clinics and lessons run by current and former varsity coaches, for-profit regional tournaments, and adult beer leagues. Our kids certainly don’t need the ESPN broadcast-grade illumination levels that Parks has strenuously argued for using at Wakeman, but Private Equity-backed travel leagues selling parents access to game video do.
The tragedy of this situation is that our youth sports organizations seemingly really do have to fight for field time – but the empty fields we drive past on a regular basis (often lighted!) should tell you the culprit is poor resource management, not a lack of available fields. Once cherished assets like Loeffler Field are underutilized.[3] There’s no plan for how the New Long Lots fields will be used, or acceptance of the fact that losing them might have only temporarily made field scheduling more difficult.[4] And, even if the lights were approved and built today, Parks doesn’t have a plan for how to use them (in the only field usage schedule provided as part of their application, Parks simply left those hours blank [pp. 9–10]). Meanwhile, youth coaches regularly complain that overcommitted, multi-sport athletes leave them struggling to keep rosters full and practices from being canceled, resulting in empty fields.
Parks insists that Westport faces an acute field shortage, but when asked for supporting data, the administration has offered only conjecture. In late July, Director Barbieri called any skepticism about field shortages “uneducated,” promising he would be “working on making sure that this information gets out to the public.”[5] A few weeks later, pressed by P&Z commissioners for that very information, he admitted, “there’s nothing else to provide you to prove that we need more fields.”[6] Parks insists that data is “being worked on”[7] — but residents have been requesting it for years. Ultimately, the Town has offered absolutely nothing to suggest that lights are a better solution to our current challenges than smarter inventory management or technology-driven scheduling.
So, how does any of that constitute an emergency requiring permanent infrastructure entirely out of scale with a park that has always closed at sunset? Parks’ argument boils down to “trust us.” But, P&Z needs transparent, reliable data to make sustainable planning decisions — and here, it simply doesn’t have it.
Unproven demand is not the only gap in the record at P&Z. The application also lacks essential street-level renderings, relying on aerial imagery that fails to demonstrate how lights will actually impact the residential neighborhood. Appropriate renderings and schematics, a requirement for any P&Z application, were requested nearly 4 months ago, but never provided.[8] However, in voting to close the record, P&Z Chair Lebowitz and Vice Chair Cammeyer insisted they understood what this project will look like to passersby. They based their assertions on a site visit that skipped basic steps, like a balloon test to see if the lights would be visible above the tree line.[9] Their imaginations may be sufficiently rich, but does that justify P&Z’s skipping their most basic due diligence steps?
Yes, Westport deserves quality sports facilities. But Town assets should serve Westport residents and school teams under transparent, data-driven management – not be reserved for the financial benefit of connected officials and private interests, operating outside municipal oversight. Nor should they be pushed through without the same documentation and thorough analysis expected of any other major infrastructure project.
With the public hearing closed, P&Z now faces a defining choice: approve an unvetted blank check based only on Parks’ word, or insist that even Town sports infrastructure projects must follow data and serve the actual needs of Westport kids–whose coaches don’t want them on the fields past 8 p.m. anyway.
Karl Davis
Whippoorwill Lane, Westport
Sources:
- [1] Recording of August 17th, 2026 P&Z Meeting from 02:42:50 to 02:44:40
- [2] Recording of June 29th P&Z Meeting from 00:57:35 to 00:58:05
- [3] Recording of July 22nd Parks Meeting from 01:23:24 to 01:24:10
- [4] Recording of August 17th P&Z Meeting from 01:22:23 to 01:22:49
- [5] Recording of July 22nd Parks Meeting from 01:28:17 to 01:28:30
- [6] Recording of August 17th, 2026 P&Z Meeting from 01:21:48 to 01:21:55
- [7] Recording of July 22nd Parks Meeting from 01:24:29 to 01:25:42
- [8] Recording of May 13th, 2026 P&Z Meeting from 01:35:45 to 01:37:15
- [9] Recording of August 17th P&Z Meeting from 03:20:20 to 03:23:10
A stunning summary if why the PZC should decline these requests for both special permit and municipal improvement (8-24) applications.
I believe the special permits are closed to further testimony, but the 8-24s withdrawn and expected to be resubmitted.
Nevertheless, Mr. Davis makes the strongest case. The smoke-and-mirrors in the town’s initiative leads to a total lack of confidence in this request. I have to admire the persistence of the few that keep at it. They haven’t had success in a decade for good reason. There really is no demonstrated need for such extravagant infrastructure. Use the funds to do better on groundskeeping.
Thanks, Toni. Unfortunately, the 8/31 Notice Letter on the resubmitted 8-24s noted that there would be no public comment. Not surprised, but would certainly be interested to know the legal justification.
Without turning this into a longer comment, I’ll simply point out that the HS coaches saying they don’t want their players on the fields past 8pm is not at all the same thing as their saying they neither want nor need them.
Also, the “I want our athletes to have access to great facilities” sentiment thrown around starts to feel disingenuous when the next line of that script – whether explicit or implied – is “so long as it meets all of the criteria I deem to be important”.
Staples / Westport have the worst facilities across nearly every sport in the entire area, and while we consistently find more ways to not improve them other towns continue to invest in their kids and communities.
James, I believe completely that Westport athletes deserve top-tier facilities. My eldest plays football and rugby and I’m likely to have baseball and field hockey players before long, too. You’re right that our neighboring towns have certainly shown what smart investment looks like. Where we differ is on what constitutes a real solution.
Allowing stadium lighting until 10:30 PM at a park that currently closes at dusk without a plan on how to use them is not sustainable development. If the varsity coaches don’t want high schoolers on the field past 8:00 PM, then why hasn’t Parks incorporated that feedback into its application?
I am not asking Parks to meet criteria I created or prioritized; I am asking them to follow the rules the Town has codified in its regulations. In every other P&Z application, applicants must provide schematics and street-level renderings, coordinate with impacted neighbors, and demonstrate a need through actual data. Parks has done none of that here—refusing to publish baseline usage numbers while bypassing basic community outreach and ignoring P&Z’s due diligence requests.
If we want to genuinely invest in Westport’s kids, let’s do it right: restore Loeffler Field, maximize the new field configurations coming online at Long Lots, and actually analyze usage to see if we should repurpose one or two of the two-dozen diamonds in Town. Real, sustainable investment means not just expanding, but maintaining Town-owned capacity for our community, not outsourcing late-night field access to private interests while sidestepping the law.
I agree with Toni, this is an excellent summary.
I have always admired the great Staples soccer history. Over 20 years ago, recognizing the important tradition of watching soccer games from the “hill” above Albie Loeffler Field behind Staples High School, a group of us worked together to fund and build my design for the seating built into the hill. The project was known as “Terrace the Hill”. We raised $100K of private donations to fund this project. We installed wooden seating benches (so they weren’t freezing in the colder weather) built on top of granite blocks, individual granite boulders for private viewing located to the east and west of the stands and we installed a series of shade trees (which are in severe need of professional pruning) for the enjoyment of the spectators. At one time, this venue was the pride of Westport, a beautifully maintained grass soccer field used only by the varsity boys and girls teams. Below the seating level, before a game, we would paint “Staples Wreckers” in huge 36″ high white letters on the grass hill. Rather intimidating from the visitor’s bench I might add.
Why does Staples play all their home games on an awful, flat turf field at Wakeman? Parents bake while sitting on those portable aluminum bleachers. Who made the decision to abandon Albie Loeffler field, conveniently located directly behind the high school? What possible reason would make this move a good decision?
I don’t know enough to comment on the use and status of the numerous other fields in town but I do question the decision making process.
~ Joseph Vallone, AIA
I have no idea why Loeffler Field had been left to its own devices, but there’s always the possibility that by letting it fail, interested parties have the opportunity to demand something new and “better.” Delayed maintenance is not always a question of money; sometimes it’s an attempt to demonstrate a need where one does not exist. As always, follow the money. Some us knew way back when that turf is a losing proposition/financial boondoggle, but bad habits die hard.
Jinny Parker Turf, which serves primarily girls in our community through it’s association with lacrosse and field hockey, loses approximately 100 hours of potential use per year through lack of lighting. (Basis a 900pm shut off)
JV Field hockey loses half of it’s season due to darkness in the fall.
Its not just about Wakeman and I take issue with the opinion using a coach’s quote saying we don’t need to use fields after a certain time….OUR COMMUNITY DOES !!
In Europe fields are where kids go. Even after dark and especially when they have free time from all the pressures that surround them these days. To play pick up soccer, fhockey, lax etc or just to practice skills with a friend. It is a joy to see.
I remember my parents always saying “Go out and play”
Why are we concerned about space when we have access via lighting to it right in front of our noses ?
I’ve been a staunch advocate for lights for over 6 years now. More often than not our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Please stop short changing our community with this never ending red tape.
Hi Ian,
I want our girls’ sports programs to thrive, not least because I hope to watch my daughter play at Jinny Parker one day. No team should have its season cut short by an avoidable daylight crunch. But, notice that your own calculation of what JV field hockey actually needs is short of the end time Parks is demanding. That extra time won’t be used for JV field hockey or school athletes at all; it is being requested for commercial rentals that violate the intent of our town policies. Nor would these lights be available for kids playing independently. The Zoning text amendment Parks secured last year reserves lighted fields exclusively for school teams and permitted events, meaning kids looking for a casual pickup game will be out of luck under Parks’ model. Supporting girls’ sports does not mean rubber-stamping this commercial expansion without site-specific planning, actual usage data, or adherence to the Town’s own zoning rules. I hope we can agree on that.
As a Westport resident, parent, and volunteer PAL youth sports coach, I’ve been following the debate over the Wakeman Field lights with a lot of frustration. Karl’s op-ed tries to paint this project as a backroom deal for private interests, but as someone who lives right in the neighborhood and spends almost every afternoon on the fields, his claims just don’t match reality.
First, my family has a real stake in this on both sides. My house is one of the closest properties to the proposed lights, so I care deeply about our neighborhood. But my kids also play on these fields, and I coach Westport youth teams. Far too often, I must pack up my kids and drive an hour away to other towns just to use proper lighted facilities because Westport simply doesn’t have what our athletes need.
The claim that our kids don’t need or won’t use these fields past sunset completely misses the point of how busy our families are. High schoolers and youth teams aren’t looking to play past 10:30 PM—they just want to finish a practice after school when the sun goes down early in the fall and spring. Right now, without lights, we lose up to three hours of field time a day, forcing coaches to shorten practices or cancel games altogether. Staggering field times with lights lets younger PAL and WSA kids take early evening slots so high schoolers can practice right after. Additionally, the 10:30 time is designed to help accommodate evening games and give enough buffer to clear the fields while the lights are on – not encourage, support, or monetize the fields for private use.
The idea that Parks and Rec is installing these lights to turn Wakeman into a commercial hub for “for-profit adult leagues” and private travel clinics is completely false. Westport’s field policies have always put our public schools and local non-profit youth sports first. Outside groups are at the very bottom of the priority list. On top of that, Parks Director Erik Barbieri confirmed on record that any permitted group will have to pay for town staff to monitor noise, parking, and enforce strict curfews. That this whole effort is about profit or “beer leagues” is a complete red herring, and as someone deeply involved in our coaching and community, I feel very empowered to point this out.
It’s also frustrating to hear claims of “poor resource management” pointing to grass fields like Loeffler. Anyone who coaches or plays sports knows you can’t run heavy, daily practices on natural grass without destroying the turf. Synthetic fields like Wakeman B are built specifically for continuous use. Adding modern, shielded LED lights to a field we already own maximizes our existing assets without taking away open space or burdening taxpayers.
At the end of the day, it feels like some of my neighbors are putting their own personal interests and property fears above what is best for the youth of Westport. We deserve a community that supports its kids with safe, modern facilities. The Planning and Zoning Commission should approve the Wakeman B lights so our children can finally play right here in their hometown.
— John Sabino
Westport Parent, PAL Coach, and Neighbor
Hi John,
First, thank you for volunteering to coach our kids, and I appreciate your perspective as a fellow abutting neighbor. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, my eldest plays football and rugby, and I am completely in favor of giving our kids quality field access in Westport. We both want them competing right here at home as much as possible, but anyone who plays or coaches also knows that part of sports is going on the road. That said, where the issue here lies is not between the preferences of neighbors, but in the gap between the balanced community vision you’ve outlined and what Parks has actually requested.
First, you noted that youth teams aren’t looking to play that late, and that buffer time is needed after evening games. Parks itself estimates that buffer at 30 minutes. If the coaches of our most senior student-athletes want them off the field by 8:00 PM, a 30-minute buffer brings us to 8:30 PM. But, Parks has repeatedly dismissed suggestions of a more reasonable shutoff time that would give coaches what they asked for and our families basic certainty.
Second, regarding commercial use: You mention that outside groups are at the bottom of the priority list and that fears of monetization are unfounded. But that concern isn’t hypothetical — it happened this summer, when an out-of-town, for-profit tournament with teams traveling from Florida and Long Island was given a Parks permit for Wakeman in direct violation of the Town’s published residency rules. Parks has conceded they relied on unwritten policy guidance in granting the permit, despite a clear conflict of interest. When the department demonstrates a willingness to bypass its own published rules to host commercial events, asking for binding zoning guardrails is basic due diligence.
Finally, you cite the town’s proposed ‘Management Plan’ — unveiled only days before the record closed — which is a masterclass in reactive governance. For months, as residents raised valid concerns about empty fields with lights left on and late night noise, Parks leadership dismissed the idea of paying staff to monitor field usage. Yet, faced with P&Z push back, they produced a draft policy requiring exactly that. The ‘policy’ is a desperate, eleventh-hour attempt to secure approval, proposing requirements the administration itself claimed were unfeasible until they were backed into a corner. Look no further than Mr. Barbieri’s attempt to walk back the new policy in the same meeting where it was unveiled[1].
Zoning regulations exist precisely so our community doesn’t have to rely on “trust us” management. We can give our student-athletes the field time they need while requiring Parks to provide real usage data, respect our neighborhood, and adhere to the Town’s zoning laws.
This piece is my opinion, but the sources are all in the public record. While I respect your personal perspective as a coach, planning decisions cannot be based on intentions or anecdotes. They require verifiable data, adherence to town zoning regulations, and an enforceable plan that protects the entire community.
[1] August 17th, 2026 P&Z Commission Meeting at 01:10:55 – “I think it’s still up in the air and for the commission to consider whether you want a staff member at every single field that has lights on. And maybe some of the policies are for a certain amount of time … to have a staff member sitting watching an adult softball game or soccer game, whatever it might be seems a little bit, you know”
Mr. Davis, I am happy to hear your children actually are involved in town sports and I hope we meet in person at a tailgate or town event in the future. Open, face-to-face dialogue is far more constructive than launching websites driven by boilerplate fear responses, threatening legal action, or driving up project costs for Westport taxpayers – which unfortunately has been the tactics as of late with those that oppose this project. In person, it becomes clear that an overwhelming majority of residents actually support modernizing our fields and sports facilities.
While we all share the goal of helping our children and community thrive, we need to be honest about the opposition to the Wakeman Field lights. The core issue isn’t town governance; it is a concern over property values and the inconvenience of evening noise past 9:00 PM. Expecting total silence next to a public school and sports field on a Friday or Saturday night overlooks the reality of living in a vibrant, growing town.
Correcting the record on field use that Davis has cited in his argument
Critics have repeatedly cited the annual “Gauntlet Lacrosse Tournament” as evidence of “for-profit abuse” and field mismanagement. This is the “for profit tournament” that Karl is referring to from this summer and this narrative is simply false. This tournament is:
• A Longstanding Tradition: The tournament has run smoothly for over seven years (or longer). Only now people are using this as an example of poor field management (I wonder why?).
• Daylight Only: It is a DAYTIME weekend event that brings youth athletes and families together from across the region and wider country.
• Community-Backed: It is supported by local parent coaches and players, utilizing fields in Westport, New Canaan, and surrounding towns.
Having attended the tournament personally, I can attest that it is well-organized and beneficial to our local sports ecosystem. Welcoming visiting families to Westport is an achievement to celebrate, not an example of administrative failure. Please stop pointing to this event as an abuse of town rules and policy to support your argument.
Looking at the bigger picture
The broader decision facing Westport is straightforward: Do we neglect our youth programs to appease a small group of neighbors, or do we deliver the facilities our coaches, players, and parents have requested since 2011?
Strong schools, updated athletic facilities, and robust extracurricular activities are precisely what draw families to Westport and sustain property values for all residents. It is difficult to imagine similar outrage over expanding a library, updating a school building, or renovating a theater facility. Athletic fields deserve the same commitment to growth and modern infrastructure.
A little extra light and noise on game nights is a small trade-off for the long-term benefit of our children and town. Westport should not let a vocal minority block the progress our community needs.
Let there be light—we have enough darkness in the world already.
I played sports in Westport, baseball and soccer primarily. But we didn’t need anything fancy, sports is about teamwork and sportsmanship, lights and travel time is about parents. Remember the magic of Westport is that it is for the kids, parents will always have Las Vegas and the Caribbean, New York City and Paris but Westport is for the kids, and kids need to be home by dark for homework and sleep to get up early. Lights are not for the kids, we never needed them for decades and believe me I saw a lot of soccer sitting on that hill, went to plenty of football games at Staples, played in caps minors and majors baseball before switching up to soccer.
This idea of Westport being for the kids is not just some stupid idea, it’s the foundation for the magic. Think about the beach, the pavilion, the library, downtown, the schools , the sports, the culture. The open minds, being free to express your opinions, all of these things add up to the best place to raise kids, the kind of parents that hold that as the priority…. This is the magic of Westport.
There is a saying coined by F Scott Fitzgerald, “It was a party for kids that had been taken over by the adults” he wrote that in Westport, for his book The Beautiful and the Damned.