$841K lighting project approved for Apache Junction softball complex
Prospector Park softball fields Nos. 1 and 2 are the first and most expensive due to additional pole replacements and will dually serve the purpose of first-row lighting for adjacent fields Nos. 3 and 4.
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
Posted
Light poles at Prospector Park, 3015 N. Idaho Road in Apache Junction.
The city of Apache Junction is paying $841,470 to replace and upgrade lighting at two Prospector Park softball complex fields to energy-efficient and dark-sky-friendly lighting.
The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously on July 18 to enter into a construction agreement with Veregy through a cooperative contract for the work at the park, 3015 N. Idaho Road.
Prospector Park softball fields Nos. 1 and 2 are the first and most expensive due to additional pole replacements and will dually serve the purpose of first-row lighting for adjacent fields Nos. 3 and 4, Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach said in a memo to the council.
“Sports field and rodeo arena lighting within city of AJ Parks and Rec facilities are among some of the oldest infrastructure in our parks. They are old, high-maintenance, high-energy lights that have been due for upgrade for many years. The Little League complex lighting was updated to shielded/LED structures several years ago through a Diamondbacks grant, and we have since scheduled all other lighting to be phased to shielded/LED lights over the course of three to four budget years,” she said.
According to the contract with Veregy, work includes:
demolish and remove nine pole lights on the west side of the “wagon wheel” of softball fields;
pole bases to be cut down 12 inches below grade;
relocate conduit, wire and junction box to nine new locations;
re-terminate conductors on new pole and LED heads; and
furnish and install new controller.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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