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BALL- FLD.WP Page 2 <br /> 2. Excerpt from August 6, 1993 Council Newsletter <br /> BACKGROUND: After a light fixture unexpectedly broke loose and fell from a pole at <br /> Kincaid Ballfield this past winter, Public Works asked a consultant experienced with <br /> wood poles to evaluate the extent of wood rot at the City's lighted ballfield <br /> complexes. <br /> Along with the poles showing decay, several of the poles have become twisted and have <br /> loose cross arms and light fixtures. Due to problems of crossarm failure, pole <br /> twisting, and lamp performance depreciation, the lighting level at the ballfields is <br /> below recommended recreational softball standards. These conditions have raised two <br /> issues: 1) liability and 2) adequacy of the lighting for the intended use. The <br /> priority for replacement is Kincaid, Graham, Shasta, and Amazon based on the data from <br /> the condition analysis report. <br /> In FY94, the plan was to replace the lighting system at Graham Ballfield and to remove <br /> the lighting system at Kincaid Ballfield and install a new system at Ascot Ballfield. <br /> Changing the lighting system to the larger Ascot Ballfield was seen to have several <br /> advantages. Ascot has restrooms (not available at Kincaid) and greater amounts of <br /> off - street parking and has a greater amount of land available to provide a buffer for <br /> the neighboring homes to mitigate any adverse affects that the lighting may cause. <br /> The P &R Plan designates Ascot Park as a Community Park. In the hierarchy of the park <br /> system this means that it is a park of community -wide significance, for use by people <br /> throughout the city. This is in comparison to a small neighborhood park expected to be <br /> used primarily by those living in its immediate vicinity. On page 55 the P &R Plan <br /> describes lighting of sports fields as one of the appropriate amenities for our <br /> Community Parks under the section "Facilities and Features ": <br /> "Sports fields - (e.g., softball, baseball, soccer) with lighting, <br /> spectator areas, off - street parking and other support facilities." <br /> Both the Recreation Division and Kidsports staff support this recommendation. <br />