$3M In Lighting Improvements Proposed For Warminster Parks

WARMINSTER, PA —Warminster Township has big plans to light up its parks in a lighting proposal to spend $3 million on upgrades at its five parks.

Warminster Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Fox appeared before last Thursday's township supervisors' meeting to provide an overview on lighting plan options for the parks system.

"Some of our parks are in dire need of upgrades," Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes said.

Fox said the project is based on the needs of existing organizations, field usage, and safety standards. She said, though, that instead of making improvements to one park, her recommendation is to "bring all facilities up to current standards."

Fox outlined the purpose of the lighting options for Werner Park, Munro Park, Community Park, Szymanek Park, and Log College Park:

• Enhance safety and user experience by increasing light levels to current recommended standards for recreational uses.
• Upgraded electrical service evaluated by electrical engineers.
• Save energy by using LED technology.
• Use more focused light to minimize impacts on neighboring properties.
• Reduce maintenance.

Chris Green, a landscape architect with Gilmore & Associates, went over the upgrades needed at each park:

Werner Park —$902,000

• Football practice field - Replace four wooden light poles that are 35 feet in height with one pole that would be raised to 70 feet to make the best use of lighting and be able to focus them properly.
• Football and softball fields —Replace 10 poles that are 50 feet high with seven poles that are 70 feet high.

The cost for the lighting at the fields would be $550,000 and $302,000 for electrical work ($210,000 for service and $92,000 for sports lighting. Engineering would cost $50,000 ($37,000 for bidding/administration and $13,000 for construction observation.)

Hayes said that the cost estimates are "not etched in stone" and that the plan hasn't been put out to bid.

"We're taking a conservative approach when we say it could be $500,000 when it really could be $800,000," Hayes said.

Hayes and Supervisor Janice Charlton asked whether the lights would illuminate a parking lot on one side and a field used for cheerleading and flag football on the other. Green said the new pole would just light the practice field. He said additional fixtures could be added to light those areas.

Fox said that all plans could be adjusted as well. "If you decide you want it a different way, we can absolutely make that happen," she said.

"That field is dark and the lighting is horrendous right now," Hayes said.

"It's not safe," Charlton added. "It's a great reason to move forward and get this updated."

Munro Park —$959,000

• Baseball field/diamond —All proposed new lighting for the 90-foot baseball diamond since no lighting there now. Six 70-foot poles are proposed.
• Courts/Skate Park —Replace fixtures on existing poles at the skate park and tennis and basketball courts.

The cost for the lighting at the fields would be $665,000 ($480,000 for the baseball diamond and $185,000 for the skate park and courts), $244,000 for electrical work ($116,000 for service, and $128,000 for sports lighting.) Engineering would cost $50,000 ($37,000 for bidding/administration and $13,000 for construction observation.)

Warminster Community Park —$641,000

• Baseball fields —Proposed lighting of seven 70-foot poles for two baseball fields.

The cost for the lighting at the two baseball fields would be $460,000, $146,000 for electrical work ($42,000 for service, and $104,000 for sports lighting.) Engineering would cost $35,000 ($25,000 for bidding/administration and $10,000 for construction observation.)

Syzmanek Park —$475,000

• Football field —Replace 10 40-foot poles and existing fixtures with four 70-foot poles.

The cost for the lighting for the football field would be $330,000, $120,000 for electrical work (No electrical upgrades for service, and $120,000 for sports lighting.) Engineering would cost $25,000 ($18,000 for bidding/administration and $7,000 for construction observation.)

Log College Park —$250,000

• Basketball court —Replace existing 40-foot poles and fixtures.
• Volleyball court —Replace existing 40-foot poles and fixtures.

The cost for the lighting for the basketball and volleyball courts would be $150,000, $85,000 for electrical work (No electrical upgrades for service, and $85,000 for sports lighting.) Engineering would cost $15,000 ($10,000 for bidding/administration and $5,000 for construction observation.)

The proposals would go back to the infrastructure committee and then recommendations will be made to the township supervisors, Supervisor Mark McKee said.

"These projects all need to get done but obviously we're going to do them in phases then spend $3 million that we don't have," Hayes said.

The next infrastructure meeting is in January.