Town officials in Wake Forest have been busy giving the local parks a serious lighting makeover. According to a recent announcement on the Wake Forest website, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is wrapping up an extensive project to upgrade lighting across several public spaces, all in the name of efficiency and cost savings.
The Relamp Project, a part of the 2022 Wake Forest Bond Referendum initiative, focuses on replacing outdated and energy-hungry metal halide lights with the latest in LED technology. So far, upgrades at the Flaherty Park pickleball/tennis courts and baseball/softball fields have been completed, and the work is pressing forward at the Tyler Run Park. Later this year, eyes will turn to the Heritage High Park baseball/softball fields and tennis courts as they are next in line for the upgrade.
These new LED lights aren't just any run-of-the-mill improvement—they're powerhouses of efficiency. Where old 1,000-watt metal halides once ruled, new 450-watt LED fixtures now shine brighter while consuming almost half the energy. That's not just good news for the nighttime athletes able to track their tennis balls with ease; it's a win for the town budget and the environment too, with expected savings in both energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The total investment of just over $2 million promises long-term paybacks that can't be overlooked.
But the benefits don't stop there. Unlike their predecessors, the LED lights have an instant 'on' feature, eliminating the long warm-up periods that used to plague players and spectators alike. The new lighting systems are also designed to minimize light pollution, directing their glow precisely where needed and cleanly cutting it off beyond the court and field boundaries, much to the relief of local residents craving a starry night sky.
In addition to offering better performance, the upgraded facilities include the latest in lighting control technology. "Finally, all PRCR fields and courts are now controlled by a state-of-the-art control and monitoring system that allows for remote on/off operations, dimming capabilities, and performance monitoring," as highlighted in the Wake Forest announcement. This high level of management ensures that public lighting remains a helping hand to evening activities rather than a wasteful or intrusive presence.
While the transition might have caused some disruptions, the PRCR Department expresses its gratitude for the community's patience throughout the project.
