New lighting system approved for city sports field

North Bay City Council has approved awarding of a contract for a new lighting system to be installed at Veterans Field.

The cost of the project is estimated to be around $850,000.

Chair of Community Services Councillor Johanne Brousseau says the current system is obsolete but there’s an immediate need to do it now

“And they’re not safe because of salt and the freezing of the soil in the winter the whole lighting structure is sinking,” Brousseau says.

Brousseau says this project has been in the works for some time but they’re doing it now for safety reasons.

“That was addressed in the rehab project from 4-5 years ago. Now that the structures are tilting it became a must for this year,” she says.

Brousseau says parts salvaged from the current lighting system at Veterans Field will be used by the City to maintain other existing sports field lighting systems.

Bernard Rochefort Limited won the contact and beat out two other bids.

Brousseau says the city has already at a cost of $700,000 installed several upgrades including drainage improvements and upgrades to the outfield, pitching mound, home plate synthetic turf in the infield has been installed and benches have been replaced.

(photo by Chris Dawson BayToday)