GET ME REWRITE: Edgewood High School sacked in battle of athletic field lights

Photos by Retiring Guy

Wisconsin State Journal, 1/3/2023

Edgewood did not prove that the city discriminated against the school on religious grounds in the multiyear battle over lights that would allow the school to host nighttime football games, as the school had alleged, U.S. District Judge William Conley said in a 28-page ruling issued late Friday. In 2021, the City Council voted against an appeal by the private Catholic school to reverse the denial of a permit to install four light poles on the field. 

Edgewood argued in court that city approval of stadium lights at UW-Madison’s tennis stadium and at Madison Memorial High School showed the city was treating secular institutions better than their religious counterparts.

The football and baseball field at Madison Val Phillips Memorial High have had lights for decades.

Aerial views from Google Maps (orange boxes added)

Nielsen Tennis Stadium is on the UW-Madison campus, the outdoor lights not impacting residential areas.

The Edgewood High School athletic field is smack-dab in the middle of the densely populated Monroe-Dudgeon neighborhood..

1/8/2020 update, "Keeping tabs on the Edgewood High School stadium controversy:  Neighbors losing the War of the Emojis", starts here.

7:24 a.m.

7:34 a.m.

Sources:

Edgewood High School’s proposed stadium worries neighbors.  (Isthmus, 1/31/2017)

Editorial:  Let the kids play under the lights at Edgewood High School.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 12/19/2018)

Edgewood High School to move forward with lights, sound system.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 2/23/2019)

Edgewood High School to delay athletic field improvements, seek resident input.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/7/2019)

Edgewood High School holding games on its field despite city officials saying it can't.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/28/2019) 
Edgewood to appeal zoning violations, argues using field for games is 'unquestionably allowed'.  (Capital Times, 6/18/2019)
Edgewood stadium opponents subjected to months-long campaign of threats.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 7/7/2019)

Edgewood High School exploring 'legal pathways' to hold games on its playing field.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 7/13/2019)

Edgewood High School asks city to repeal master plan so sporting events can be held. (Wisconsin State Journal, 8/3/2019)
Edgewood alleges religious discrimination in lawsuit against Madison over use of athletic field. (Capital Times, 8/22/2019))
Edgewood, other schools now need city OK for major changes to outdoor facilities.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/2/2019))
Madison City Council: Edgewood can host games on field, repeal its master plan.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/8/2020)