PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County’s Memorial Field is a whole lot brighter as the latest lighting technology has replaced the old standard that has been in service since 1974.
On a very cold Friday night, a gathering of donors, VIPs and elected officials celebrated the conclusion of a project that began two years ago by ceremonially turning on the lights. Retiring County Commissioner Kathleen Kler wielded oversized shears and snipped a red ribbon as attendees were awash in the new, bright light.
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Manager Matt Tyler explained that the field lights were not functioning properly the past few years and that they were quite costly to maintain.
“They were so old that replacement parts and bulbs were no longer available,” Tyler said. “Bulbs were not easily replaced.”
At one point, a 40-pound piece of metal fell 70 feet to the ground and Tyler said it became quite clear that the poles and fixtures were an accident waiting to happen.
Monte Reinders, the county’s public works director, said Memorial Field is the only lighted field in Jefferson County.
“It’s unique, constructed in 1947 after World War II to be a community asset. It’s in memory of those who served in that war.”
He pointed out that the ceremony was being held Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.
“The county and its community partners invested in this facility so it could remain a great asset for athletes and others from pre-K to adults who use this field, proving that it truly takes a village to have a facility such as this,” Reinders said.
Everything had to be replaced — the wiring, the poles, the controls, the lights. The total project cost is $361,729.
“Matt suggested we look for grants and we quickly identified the state Recreation and Conservation Office and their youth athletic program for help with this project,” Reinders said.
Reinders said they reached out to industry leader Musco Lighting based out of Iowa. The company’s newest LED high-efficiency lighting system, with low-light spill to the neighboring areas, was specified.
“With the old lights, it took 45 minutes to turn them on because they pulled so much power, Reinders said. “We got a $300 surge bill from the electric company every time we flipped them on, unless we did them gradually over a 45-minute time period.”
There was so much light spill, Reinders said people in tents at Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island could see the lights.
“With the new system, you flip a switch and they’re on, without any light spill. You can actually see the football go through the goal posts in those night games.”
The lights are guaranteed for 25 years and there are no bulbs to change.
Reinders said as the final part of the project, he’s working with area tribes to install interpretive signage describing the historic context of the site.
Along with Tyler, County Manager Philip Morley took on the task of finding sponsors for the project.
“The county didn’t have the money to do it by ourselves,” Morley said. “We needed to come up with 55 percent of the funding, and the more partners we could get, the easier it would be. It became a community collective effort of 11 different organizations.”
Along with Jefferson County, those who contributed to the funding include Port Townsend School District, Chimacum School District, Port Townsend Booster Club, Jefferson Healthcare, Friends of Parks and Recreation, Port Townsend Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, Chimacum Booster Club, East Jefferson Rotary, The Rakers Car Club and Olympic Peninsula Steam.
“It was because of that partnership we ranked No. 1 in the state for the RCO grant,” Morley said. “It’s because of the community coming together.”
Commissioner Kate Dean, the “mother of a teen and a tween,” said that the field was used by the S’Klallam people for generations, and it had been used for many years before it was built as the current facility.
“In 1946, the state and county came up with a whopping $4,750 to double the size of the field, put in bleachers and put in lighting, and 2,500 people came out to honor that investment,” she said.
Dean spoke to the importance of providing a place for the community’s youth.
“As the community has aged, we’ve lost a place where teens actually participate,” Dean said. “We’ve lost a roller rink, we’ve lost a bowling alley, we even lost the Boiler Room now. We have to continue to invest in these places and in activities for families living here.”
Kaleen Cottingham, director of the state Recreation & Conservation Office, recognized the commitment of the participating donor organizations and “the tenacious staff at the local level. It made a big impression on those at the state.”
“It takes a community, and this is what democracy is all about,” she said.
Student football player Logan Storm, a senior at Chimacum High School, said the new lights have helped his performance on the field. Students played under the new lights for some of the final games of the fall sports season.
“I can see the ball better, the defenders better and you can see all of us,” Storm said. “We use films for many reasons and we couldn’t see them clearly before.”
Margeaux Manuel, Port Townsend High School senior soccer player, explained that as a defender her first and only goal was scored in Memorial Field, and, unfortunately against her own team.
“Now with these new lights, I’ll be able to see the goal better,” she quipped.
Finn O’Donnell, a sophomore at Port Townsend High School and Dean’s son, was tapped to flip the switch. As the guests sat in the dark for a brief few seconds, O’Donnell turned on the lights.
The crowd cheered and clapped as the field was bathed in light. It was then that they clearly saw two families of deer on opposing sides of the field having a turf snack.
“Deer in the headlights!” someone yelled, and the crowd roared with laughter.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
Guests react to the moment the new lights were turned on during a ceremony held at Memorial Field on Friday. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)
