New Lights For West Hartford Youth Baseball

WEST HARTFORD, CT — One of the town's prominent youth baseball fields will get a lighting facelift this summer following the town's approval of a new lighting project earlier this month.

The West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission June 6 voted 5-0 to approve a $175,000 lighting project for the youth baseball field at Wolcott Park, which is located at 1341 New Britain Ave.

As part of the proposal, West Hartford Youth Baseball (affiliated with Cal Ripken League baseball) would donate the funds for the project to the town, which would administer the lighting project.

The town would also own and manage the lighting system at the park.

Work is expected to begin over the summer and, when complete, the lights should only take about a week to install, according to WHYB's special use permit application.

"As the town’s sole baseball field equipped with lights, the baseball field at Wolcott Park is an asset to the town and families of West Hartford. This capability has been critical to the development of generations of players and has cemented West Hartford’s status as a top-tier baseball town," reads WHYB's application.

"Now, however, the lights at Wolcott are long past their expected lifespan. They provide poor lighting, are energy inefficient, pose safety risks, and grow more and more difficult to maintain each year."

The lights proposed would be more modern, brighter and require four light poles instead of the current eight, according to WHYB.

PZC members unanimously approved the project, but restricted use of the lights until 10 p.m. every day was part of the approval.

According to WHYB, the ability to play night games is key as it boasts a large number of divisions, teams and leagues that serve a total of 725 players spread out over six different divisions ranging from spring leagues, summer leagues and travel teams.

"The benefits of replacing the lights include increased safety, simplified maintenance, energy efficiency, and reduced light spillover into surrounding areas," reads WHYB's application.

For the minutes of the June 6 West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For the full West Hartford Youth Baseball application for lights, click on this link.