MONROE — The Monroe Common Council was poised to approve and fund a number park and recreation-related improvements, including lighting and a new aquatic feature, during its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 20.
A big-ticket item comes in the form of an all-new lighting package for the Twining Park softball fields. That improvement will cost nearly $150,000 and Gentz Electric was expected to be awarded the contract for the work.
Despite the price, the new system is a vast improvement over the old lights that have drawn more than a few complaints in the past. The proposal calls for installation of “Total Light Control, TLC-LED factory-aimed and assembled luminaires.”
Other features include:
● Galvanized steel poles
● Factory wired and tested remote electrical component enclosures
● Control-Link control and monitoring system to provide remote on/off and dimming (high/medium/low) control and performance monitoring with 24/7 customer support
● UL listed assemblies
Twining Park is not the only rec facility getting a new set of state-of-the-art lights: Council also is expected to approve a nearly $125,000 contract to install lights at the Northeast tennis courts, now pickleball courts.
The lights there date back to 1988, city officials said, and the new ones will be paid-for largely without taxpayer funds.
“The replacement of the lighting and poles would be 100% funded through fundraising funds acquired through the Pickleball fundraising campaign,” said a city memo on the matter, included in the council packet.
The new installation should also generate some efficiencies over the old lights, according to the memo. Gentz Electric also is the contractor for the work.
“This upgraded system offers enhanced lighting performance and energy efficiency, backed by a 25-year parts and labor warranty,” the city memo said. “The life expectancy of the new LED system is estimated to be 30-40 years.”
In a related matter, the council was expected to agree to spend $54,500 on a contract with Midwest Sealcoating for pickleball court post, net installation, and surface application at Northeast Park.
Meanwhile, the council also is eyeing replacing the aging drop slide at Recreation Park Pool with a state-of-the-art climbing wall, known as an AquaClimb wall, manufactured by from Poolside Adventures and slated for likely installation by Badger Swim Pools. About $45,000 was budgeted for installation of the wall.
It is essentially a plexiglass climbing wall anchored on the edge of the pool, rising as much as 12-feet in the air, allowing kids to scale the wall and plunge safely back into the pool.
“After exploring alternative options, it has been determined that a climbing wall would be a better replacement for the drop slide, given its higher usage and appeal,” a city Department of Public Works memo said.