Werner First Park Chosen For Lighting Upgrades In Warminster

WARMINSTER, PA —Werner Park will be the first park to get light upgrades, but the new fixtures might not arrive until the end of the year.

Warminster Township Supervisors approved the first in a $5 million parks lighting upgrade project, starting with the park off Kirk Road.

In late December, Warminster Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Fox presented supervisors with lighting plan options for the township's five main parks: Werner, Munro, Syzmanek, Log College, and Warminster Community Park.

Officials estimated the project could cost between $3-5 million, but that the upgrades would be spread out over time since the township can't afford to tackle such an expense in one shot.

At its meeting last week, supervisors signed off on Werner Park lighting upgrades with costs expected in the neighborhood just under $1 million.

"Werner Park service is so outdated that it's dangerous," said Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes, adding that the lighting was installed in 1956. "This is long overdue."

The original proposal called for the football practice field to have four wooden light poles that are 35 feet in height replaced with one pole that would be raised to 70 feet for the best lighting usage.

Additionally, the 10 poles at the football and softball fields that are 50 feet high would be replaced with seven poles that are 70 feet high.

Hayes said that after feedback from residents that there are a few different design options that might have poles between 40 feet and 70 feet.

He said those designs will be discussed at next month's meeting with the project expected to go out to bid in April or May by the latest.

Hayes said it also could take two months to order the lights.

Township officials had hoped to get the lights installed before the start of the football season, but that might have to wait until after the season or the end of the year.

Fox told supervisors that she assured residents that the light is really concentrated and shouldn't spill into their homes.

"We will do our best to get this done as quickly as possible," Fox said. "We can't have football in a construction site."

But Hayes cautioned Fox about the progress of the project.

"I'd rather have it done correctly," he said. "I want it all secured and squared away. This is 30-year lighting. It's ok if it takes until December or later."