FIELD LIGHTING
Photo courtesy of GMB Architecture + Engineering
Photo courtesy of LaBella Associates
Photo courtesy of HNP Landscape Architecture
“ In general , our approach is to follow the Five Principals for Responsible Outdoor Lighting from the Illuminating Engineering Society ( IES ) and International Dark Sky Association ( IDA ) which state that outdoor lighting should do the following : 1 . Be useful . All light should have a clear purpose . 2 . Be targeted . Light should be directed only where needed . 3 . Provide low light levels . Light should be no brighter than necessary . 4 . Be controlled . Lighting should only be used when it is useful . 5 . Have a warmer color . Use warmer white where possible .”
Compounding the interest in trying to keep a lid on excessive lighting is an uptick in dark sky tourism , in which those who want to stargaze ( such as near an observatory or a park ) will actually seek out designated spots that have been registered as dark sky preserves , defined as areas that restrict or reduce light pollution or maintain and protect naturally dark night skies .
While it ’ s unlikely that a dark sky preserve would ever be located adjacent to a sports field with multiple night games , it behooves field managers to understand the importance that is increasingly being placed on maintaining natural areas and minimizing unnecessary lighting .
Organizations in the lighting industry that field managers should be aware of :
DarkSky International , the global authority on light pollution , has been studying the impact
28 SportsField Management | August 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com