Borough May Pick up the Pace with Field Lighting Upgrades

Oakland is moving ahead to upgrade the lighting at the borough’s recreation complex—a little more quickly than anticipated.

The borough had originally planned to replace the nine lights at the complex, a project with a cost estimated at around $1.4 million, in three phases. But officials say that consolidating the second two installments of the project this year will trim the costs and address a fast deteriorating situation in nighttime play at the field.

“Every year that progresses they’re getting worse and worse,” Recreation Commissioner Mike Guadagnino said.

He explained that the lights have grown outdated beyond repair; in some cases the bulbs are fused to the sockets and can’t be replaced. Earlier this year, he said, a circuit board blew and cast the field in complete darkness.

Oakland’s football, baseball and softball programs utilize the field at night, especially as the sun sets early during their play in the spring and fall. Currently, the recreation commission is renting temporary lights to meet the needs of its programming.

Borough administrator Richard Kunze said officials had originally believed that the project would take too long to complete in less than three phases without interfering with athletic programs, but were informed by the borough engineer that the remaining six lights could be replaced over the winter.

Additionally, consolidating the project will trim costs and address concerns with the deteriorating lighting conditions at the field, he said.

“It has reached the point where, despite routine upkeep, we would just be throwing good money after bad if there was a major problem that needed to be fixed,” Kunze said.

The first phase of the project was budgeted at $480,000, according to Kunze. Guadagnino told Patch that the Recreation Commission has previously expressed a willingness to help foot the bill.

The project, included in a capital bond ordinance, will be voted on by the borough council Aug. 14.