Ball field lights left on all night, Wake Forest man says

Dan Kennedy lives in Wake Forest's Pemberley subdivision and is less than a mile from the ball fields at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School.

At least three nights a week, he says, someone leaves the field lights on all night after the softball and baseball games that linger into the wee hours of 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.

Yes, the lights shine into his home, he said, but he's more concerned about the money wasted to keep those lights lit. And it's environmentally irresponsible, he said.

"As a taxpayer, I'm irate they are wasting my money," he said.

Kennedy has tried calling the school to complain, but officials there just tell him to call someone else, he said.

"They act as if they have no idea that the field belongs to the school," he said.

So Kennedy contacted Troubleshooter to find out who operates the field and ask who is responsible for turning off the lights.

Susan Simpson, Wake Forest's parks and recreation director, said the ball field is a joint operation between the middle school, the town of Wake Forest and Wake County. But she's responsible for scheduling events, including the town's baseball and softball leagues, the school's games, and soccer and football games run by private organizations.

Simpson said the town pays a scorekeeper to be at every game and to make sure the lights are turned off. And, she said, 10 p.m. is usually the latest a game will last.

"I can't say it's a problem" Simpson said when asked about lights being left on. She said that she's had just three complaints about the lights in the 16 years she's worked with the town.