Parks board considers using LEDs in holiday display

By Ralph Pokorny

Nevada Daily Mail

"You know Christmas is just around the corner," a smiling Jeff Post told the Nevada Parks and Recreation Board on Wednesday afternoon, during a discussion about the annual Lights at the Lake display.

Parks and Recreation Director Dana Redburn told the board that she would like to cut the city's cost to operate the annual drive-through Christmas light display at Radio Springs Park by putting the lights on timers.

In recent years the city has left the lights on all night to reduce the overtime required for someone to come out and turn off the lights each night.

Redburn said she also wants to change the lights to LEDs instead of the traditional incandescent light bulbs being used for most of the display.

"The city has been spending $1,000 per month to operate the lights," she said.

"A change to LEDs would cut the cost by one-third."

Redburn told the board that it will cost about $6,000 to replace the lights with LEDs, noting that the current lights are old, in poor condition and need to be replaced anyway.

Most of the lights currently in use are of the same type as the ones used on home Christmas displays and are not meant for this type of usage.

Redburn said she is proposing to send a letter to businesses and civic organizations requesting donations to replace the current lights with commercial-grade strings of LEDs and other decorations. Some of the inflatable displays also are in need of replacement.

Donations for the lights will be recognized in some manner with appropriate signage, Redburn said before the board voted 6-0 to approve sending the letters.

In addition, Redburn said, they are looking at doing some kind of fundraising event in September that will allow individuals to make small donations and receive a thank-you from the parks board.

In addition to changing the type of lights, Redburn said that after working on the project last year for the first time, she would like to make some changes this year and in the future.

"I'd like to change things a little -- maybe make it a bigger event," she said.

One option would be to work with a local multi-sport club and host a walk around the lake instead of immediately opening the display to cars.

"This would give people more time to enjoy the kick-off to the Christmas season and make it more of a social event," she said.

The board also voted 6-0 to recommend that the city council approve a transfer of ownership of the sign in Earp Park from the Nevada-Vernon County Chamber of Commerce to the parks department.

Post told the board that by accepting ownership of the sign, the parks department will not need to ask a third party about changing the sign when the new public safety building is constructed and Earp Park is renovated.