Earlier this month, Harrison County Schools Clerk of the Works Neil Quinn said he anticipated delivery of new lights to be installed at Wayne Jamison Field before the end of this week and right around the time the turf installation would be complete. As it turns out, Quinn was correct on both fronts.

 

Late this morning and into the early afternoon, workers were unloading the four new light poles – along with other equipment – that will soon be installed at Jamison Field. The lights are being put in by Musco Lighting.

 

It’s all part of a roughly $270,000 light project being done this summer at the facility. Along with the new turf and the new resurfaced track that is to be installed in the very near future, Jamison Field will see nearly $1 million in improvements.

 

At this moment, there are six 70-foot poles that light Jamison Field for soccer, football and even night track events among others. Quinn said four of the 70-foot poles will be removed and the plan is to cut the top half off of the two remaining poles.

 

The two poles that will be left up and cut in half will have a use. Quinn said they will serve primarily as speaker mounts for the field’s sound system.

  

“It’s an eco-friendly system because you need less light and since you’re using less light it reduces the cost … With this system, all of the light is focused on the playing field with little, or any, going into the sky and very little focused in on the bleachers,” Quin said recently.

 

Quinn also pointed out that like the existing lighting system, bulbs will have to be replaced as they burn out. However, the lights in the system are anticipated to last longer.

 

No timetable has been given on the project. However, BHS Principal Mark DeFazio said he anticipates all work at Jamison Field to be complete prior to August 1.

 

The project will not involve Harrison County BOE staff. Quinn said it is a turnkey project.