Stadium Lighting At T.C. Williams Goes To City For Approval

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Improvements to T.C. Williams High School's Parker-Gray Stadium, including a proposal to add lighting, is moving ahead to get city approval. The Planning Commission will consider the proposal on Oct. 2.

The recommendation to add stadium lighting would remove an original condition for building the school that prohibits lighting for athletic facilities. The requested special use permit calls for lighting no higher than 80 feet tall to control light onto residential properties.

Other improvements include replacing the concession building, adding restrooms, relocating the scoreboard, upgrading the press box, resurfacing the track and replacing the artificial turf playing field.

The school district called for the improvements in light of growing student enrollment and outdated features in the stadium. T.C. Williams is the only public high school in Northern Virginia without stadium lighting, according to a city staff report. The lack of lighting prevents the football team from playing Friday night games at home.

The lack of lighting in the stadium is a result of the school's proximity to residential neighborhoods There are homes to the west of the school property on Woods Place and to the south on Bishop Lane.

Some residents are suing over the lighting proposal, claiming the city and the school district are violating a "no lights" agreement made when land needed for T.C. Williams displaced residents, according to WJLA. Displaced residents got newly-built homes in return for a promise not to have lights at the stadium. The agreement was last renewed in 2012.

City staff recommend approval of the stadium improvements. Alexandria City Council will consider the proposal on Oct. 13.

SEE ALSO: Residents Sue Over Lighting At T.C. Williams Stadium: Report

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