Temporary lights will help Mahopac youth sports teams get through the shorter days of fall, but Carmel officials say it may be time to explore a more permanent solution at Mahopac's Airport Park — if they can navigate environmental restrictions and other hurdles.
The issue arose during the Carmel Town Board’s Sept. 16 work session as Recreation and Parks Director Nina Kallmeyer sought authorization for the Mahopac Sports Association (MSA) to bring temporary, generator-powered light towers to Airport Park, Baldwin Meadows Park and Jimmy McDonough Memorial Park for its fall football and soccer programs.
MSA Soccer plans to use five light towers at Airport Park and two at Baldwin Meadows from Sept. 21 through Nov. 20. MSA Football is also seeking temporary lighting at McDonough Park, where Fields 3 and 4 do not have permanent lights.
The temporary lighting prompted Councilman Rob Kearns to ask whether the town could pursue a longer-term solution, particularly at Airport Park, where soccer and lacrosse programs regularly contend with darkness during the fall.
“I would like to put some more of a permanent light fixture up there for the soccer program and lacrosse programs,” Kearns said. “I think that’s something that we should look into — being able to provide more light in general at Airport Park, not just on the field, but in the parking lot, too.”
Finding a permanent solution, however, may not be simple.
Kallmeyer said the town has explored permanent lighting at Airport Park in the past, but any improvements there would require Putnam County approval. Town officials also said environmental restrictions involving impervious surfaces at the park could complicate the installation of conventional light poles requiring concrete bases.
Board members said the park is already over limits governing impervious surfaces after previous improvements, including paved areas and pathways. They referred to issues the county has had with New York City over the property because it lies within the city’s watershed.
Officials discussed alternatives that might avoid adding permanent concrete pads, including portable fixtures or lights mounted to existing buildings or poles.
It was also noted that Airport Park is in close approximation to residential neighborhoods, and homeowners could take a dim view of the idea of lights at the park,
Kallmeyer said the town should consider the nearby homes and ensure that any permanent lighting is properly designed to minimize spillover and light pollution.
“We would have to probably get an engineer to do a light plan,” she said.
Kearns said lighting in the Airport Park parking lot is another concern. An existing light on the building illuminates the walkway and handicapped parking area but does not provide significant lighting for the rest of the lot, he said.
“Now with fall sports and it getting dark early, you have a lot of people coming in and out of there,” Kearns said. “I think it’d be smart on our end to get some portable lights up there as soon as possible.”
Kallmeyer agreed to revisit the town’s previous work on the issue and investigate possible options. Board members also suggested speaking with Putnam County about whether changes could be made to accommodate additional lighting.
For now, MSA’s temporary lights will allow practices to continue as daylight dwindles.
MSA will be responsible for operating the lights and has provided the town with a certificate of insurance from the rental company naming Carmel as an additional insured.
At McDonough Park, the temporary lights must be shut off no later than 10 p.m., while those at Airport Park and Baldwin Meadows must be turned off by 8:30 p.m. The towers will be removed at the end of the fall season or sooner if required by weather conditions or the Recreation and Parks Department.
Kallmeyer also asked the Town Board to accept the donation of a 20-foot storage container from MSA Football for use at Jimmy McDonough Memorial Park.
The container will allow the youth football program to keep blocking pads, tackling mats and other practice equipment at the park. Football equipment had previously been stored in a lower garage at McDonough, but the Recreation and Parks Department now needs that space for its Ventrac tractor and attachments.
The container has already been delivered and is temporarily sitting in the park’s lower parking lot. MSA plans to move it alongside Field 5, behind the skate park, when ground conditions permit.
Kallmeyer said other MSA programs have dedicated storage space at the park, and the container would provide football with a similar arrangement.
MSA Football purchased the container and is donating it to the town.
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