Local sports fields to receive lighting upgrades

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s Office is working with contractor Spark Lighting to upgrade the sports field lights at the South Montgomery County Girls Softball League and Oak Ridge Woodlands Area Little League fields.

This is part of a $1.4 million initiative to upgrade all sports field lighting at the facilities off of Pruitt Road, including at the South County Football League, which was completed last summer.

Commissioner Noack’s Office worked to secure a $457,000 federal grant to help pay for the upgraded LED lighting systems, which will replace the old metal halide lighting fixtures.

Four of the softball fields will have the wooden poles replaced with steel poles. Those materials could not be ordered until the grant was approved in October, or else the precinct would have been disqualified from the grant. The materials arrived in January; and work started at the beginning of February after the freeze and major rain event last month.

The lighting system installations are expected to be completed by early March.

The LED lighting system provides:

• Energy savings
• More environmentally friendly lighting
• Longer lifespan
• Minimal maintenance without the need to replace bulbs
• Brighter and more widespread illumination of the fields
• Upgraded onsite and wireless controls for lighting system

This is very important because under the Use Agreement, which these leagues have had in place with Montgomery County for several years, they pay $1 annually for sole use of the facilities, and the leagues are responsible for all utilities, maintenance, repairs and alterations on the premises. This includes field lights, buildings (such as concession stands), bleachers, or other improvements to permanent structures; as well as replacement of all light bulbs or globes on the premises, including field lights.