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Installation of disputed lights
begins By John Weyand In a debate that has many students feeling left in the dark, the intramural sports program will soon be bathed in light. Construction has begun around the TCU Intramural Fields to install lights atop 75-foot poles, allowing intramural play to continue after dark. Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the lights are expected to be installed midway through the semester. “We’re aiming for mid-March, but the weather has been slowing progress,” Mills said.
Mills said the lighting project will cost about $400,000, but no special allocation was needed to fund the project. “The money comes from a portion of the annual budget set aside for general projects,” Mills said. “That money is present every year and is sometimes for paving parking lots and patching roofs.” Mills said the high cost has to do with the consideration of TCU’s residential neighbors. In order to reduce glare into nearby yards, the City of Fort Worth Board of Adjustments granted TCU a variance in November 2000 allowing the maximum light pole height to be raised from 35 to 75 feet. The increased pole height will allow the light to be more directional, preventing the light from spilling into nearby yards. Despite the extra cost for taller shielded lights, Mills said the lights’ height had to be raised or they wouldn’t go up at all. “We didn’t even look at estimates for 35-foot lights,” Mills said. “We knew (the lights) had to be 75-foot to work.” During community meetings held throughout the fall semester, many of TCU’s neighbors expressed concerns about disturbing light pollution at late-night hours. With the help of lighting engineers, Mills assured TCU’s neighbors that little light will go beyond the edges of the intramural fields. Mills also said an agreement made with neighborhood members will prevent games from running later than 10:30 p.m. Additionally, the agreement states the lights will only be used Sunday through Thursday nights. Damien Abel, director of intramural sports, said the lights will only be used for intramural sports and TCU-sponsored events. Abel said no camps or activities not sponsored by TCU will be lighted. Neighbors also voiced complaints about how the lights would look and the potential damage the lights will cause to TCU’s aesthetic appeal. Abel said although a color hasn’t been chosen, the poles will be painted to blend in with the landscape.“(The color will be) something pleasing — something nicer than plain stainless steel,” Abel said. Mills said he believes the neighbors will get used to the new look. “The first day they go up, they’ll be God-awful,” Mills said. “Two weeks later, they won’t be there.” Mills also said he is happy students will be able to participate in intramural activities well into the evening. “If (TCU) wants to run a full-service recreational program, students have to be able to play at 9 (p.m.),” Mills said. “Playing at dusk and later without substantial light is dangerous.” Steve Kintigh, director of recreational sports, said lighting on the fields will improve player turnout in intramural sports, since students are more available during evening hours. “Four (p.m.) is a terrible time to play,” Kintigh said. “In fact, we see 40 percent more forfeits (due to not enough players) at 4 (p.m.) than we do at 7 (p.m.). Night games in general have extremely few forfeits.” Intramural athletes will now be able to see the ball they’re playing with. Unless it goes in the neighbor’s yard. John Weyand |
