The children’s baseball organizer who brought a concession stand and bleachers to Ciuccoli Field at Governor’s Park on East Ridge has a new plan in mind to bring LED lights to the baseball and softball fields and tennis and basketball courts.
The baseball field would get lights for the first time. The softball field and sports courts would be upgraded from standard lighting to LED lights, said Robert Alicia, president of Ridgefield Babe Ruth, who is behind the plan.
Alicia submitted an application to the Planning and Zoning Department and has been given a date of Jan. 5 for a public hearing on his plan. The hearing is set that day for 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex, Prospect Street.
“LED lighting is phenomenal. You eliminate the glare and focus the lights only on the areas that need to be lit,” Alicia said in a telephone interview.
There could be some public comment against adding lights, particularly since there is a housing development across the street.
He is not concerned about that. “It’s a big home run because of the reduction in light pollution, not to mention the costs will be reduced. There are a lot of residual benefits,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be well received,” he said.
Alicia declined to put a price on the project, but said he would gather the money through private fund-raising.
Town Planner Betty Brosius sees merit in the project.
“It could be an improvement on over-spillage in lighting at the site,” Brosius said.
Alicia also wants to add a protective backdrop behind home plate so that foul balls do not fly into the nearby parking lot and damage cars. “It’s going to be an improvement for the park,” Brosius said.
The LED lights would be a welcome change at the park, said Assistant Planner Adam Schnell.
“LED is a much better technology, and more energy-efficient,” Schnell said.
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