Friday night games? Oakmont, Riverview school officials await word on grant money for football field lights

As Allegheny Valley School District adds lights to the Springdale Dynamos’ new football field, Riverview is left as the last public school in the WPIAL without a lighted field.

Saturday afternoon football is a staple in Oakmont’s Riverside Park. While conversations between district and borough leaders have taken place over the years about adding lights to the Raiders’ field, the closest they’ve come are rented, portable lights used once a year for Thursday night soccer and a Friday night football game before the district’s homecoming dance. The cost of those lights comes out of team booster funds.

TJ Kmetz, parent of a junior on Riverview’s football team, thinks it’s time for a break from tradition.

“It’s a joy to watch them play any time,” Kmetz said.

He said, as a parent, there isn’t really a negative to having Saturday afternoon home games. However, everyone likes playing under the lights, Kmetz said.

But adding lights is easier said than done.

The school district rents the field from Oakmont since it’s located in Riverside Park, a space open to the public that also houses the district’s home baseball field. This means it’s up to the borough to install lighting — with some assistance from the district.

“We have had earnest discussions with the school district about a future where there are field lights at Riverside Park,” borough Manager Scot Fodi said. “Oakmont has been awarded some grant funding for installing lights and there is one remaining grant filed, but we await the passing of the (state) budget currently under debate in Harrisburg to know if there are additional funds available.”

While not an exact number, Fodi said the project is predicted to cost around $990,000. The prediction is a working number, he said. The borough has been awarded two grants totaling $275,000 to put toward the project. In addition, the USGA donated $100,000 designated for park improvements after the U.S. Open was hosted in the borough. The latest grant borough leadership has applied for is a state Commonwealth Financing Authority Local Share Award grant for $750,000.

Without a state budget, it’s impossible to know what grant money will be available.

“Council has stated publicly that support is limited to grant applications and site engineering since the park is borough property. The balance remaining to install any lighting will have to evolve from donations and other avenues,” Fodi said.

According to David Turk, spokesperson for Riverview, the district is waiting for the outcome of the borough’s final grant proposal, an announcement that’s expected within the coming months.

“Once the decision is known, we will develop a plan to secure any additional funds that may be required. If the full grant request is awarded, no further funding will be necessary to complete the project,” Turk said in an email.

For parents, Kmetz said a lighted field and Friday evening games could help emphasize players’ health.

Kmetz said the Friday before a Riverview home game consists of a walk-through practice, film review and a team dinner. The next morning, players attend an 8 a.m. team breakfast. From there, they head to the field and are dressed and warming up with more walk-throughs by 10 a.m. for a noon game. Kmetz said, after the game, players are out of the locker room by 3 p.m. and on their way home.

“It turns into a long day for them as players,” Kmetz said. “And then you’re talking about the fact that they now only have Sunday as a down day. So, they have one day of rest before you turn around and go back to school on Monday.”

While he recognizes Riverview coaches work hard to prioritize players’ health and safety, that may be easier if home games were on Friday nights. Like most small high schools, the Raiders have players who are on the field for both offense and defense.

“Week after week, you know, they’re bouncing back and forth between schedules,” Kmetz said. “This week, we’re playing on Saturday and next on Friday. You’re cutting your rest, recovery and practice short by a day there.”

The district’s athletic director, Andre Carter, and head football coach, Trevor George, did not respond to requests for comment.

Scott Seltzer, executive director of WPIAL, declined to comment about the situation, saying field lighting is up to the discretion of the districts.

Aside from football, the school’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams also use the field for games and practices. Their home games are usually scheduled at 4:15 p.m. to get the maximum amount of daylight.

“For me, there is an issue with making sure we’re doing the best things for the athletes, but also being able to enjoy the experience with family,” Kmetz said.