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Ashland will light park's soccer field, with limits By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - Installation of lights at a soccer field in North Mountain Park will go ahead as planned, but they won't be turned on if an energy emergency is declared. Parks and recreation commissioners voted unanimously Monday for a policy that would turn off Parks Department lights at all athletic fields, including North Mountain Park and tennis courts, if the city, state, federal government or Bonneville Power Administration declared a need to curtail usage. The commission did not discuss recommendations from some audience members that the installation be delayed. "Wait until the energy situation changes before you install the lights," said resident Bill Anderson. "There are other items on the priority list to move ahead with." Jim Moore said that not installing the lights would be a chance to teach children to manage environmental resources. "We acknowledged that the lights might have to be turned off if the power shortage worsens," said Gregg Howe, representing the Ashland Soccer Club. "The lights are the most advanced and efficient available. To say they are a huge consumer of electricity ... is misleading." Commissioners voted 3-2 on May 2 to light one field this fall if sports supporters contribute 35 percent, or $23,625 of the estimated $67,500 cost. Ashland's soccer club in April offered $15,000 to light a field after the Parks and Recreation Department eliminated the lighting from its 2001-02 budget. Soccer club past President Scott Kurtz said the group hopes to raise the entire amount within one year. The parks commission has allowed the group up to five years to pay the contribution. In December, commissioners approved lighting a field despite protests from the park's neighbors, environmentalists and astronomers that the project would result in late-night disturbances, affect wildlife in the park's natural areas and brighten the night sky. Sports enthusiasts have supported the lighting to allow more time for practice and games. Operating standards adopted by the commission in December prohibited lighted field use on Sundays and Mondays, placed a 9:30 p.m. deadline on games and prohibited lighting between November and mid-February. Before the meeting, city Administrative Services Director Dick Wanderscheid the city will evaluate operations within departments to find ways to reduce electrical use. "We are asking everybody to cut back energy use by 10 percent," said Wanderscheid. "If parks can figure out a way to make the lights work and still cut back 10 percent, that works for me. We had some discussions about when we might energize the lights." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.