Private single and multi-purpose LED sports lighting is not just for parks, condominiums, and apartment buildings anymore. Backyard sports lighting is increasing in popularity for people desiring an active lifestyle. Homeowners are building illuminated sports/recreation facilities in their backyards, including bocce courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, ice skating rinks, and combinations thereof.
Having a sports area in your backyard is like having a personal gym, but better. For families, sports areas become a location where children of all ages gather. In many ways, a sports area creates the same type of venue as a waterfront home, albeit at a fraction of the cost of a waterfront location.
To extend the hours of play, lighting is a common denominator with sports areas regardless of the type of sport. Without lighting, the games stop at dusk. With lighting, the play can continue at all hours. Today, most sports areas are being illuminated with either Pulse Start Metal Halide (PSMH) or LED. PSMH lamps operate on average for 15,000 hours, which keeps maintenance at a minimum, and is lower cost than LED. LED is rated for as long as 100,000 hours and uses less energy, but that comes at a premium to PSMH.
Let’s use lighting for a half-basketball court as an example. A PSMH half-basketball court with poles and lighting is priced at $2,890, while the LED half-basketball court with poles and lighting is priced at $4,890. Is the $2,000 premium worth it for LED lighting? The reasons for PSMH are price, quality, reliability, and a lower price. Reasons supporting LED include superior energy efficiency and longer life, which reduces maintenance. In other words, a compelling case can be made for PSMH or LED.
There are considerations before installing sports lighting including zoning laws that dictate pole height, perimeter/lot line requirements, and light trespass restrictions. The most common zoning regulations are limits to the pole height; and how close to the lot line you can place a pole, court, or fence. Pole height is frequently limited to 20 or 25 feet. The mean range of lot line requirements is from 0 to 10 feet. Many municipalities do not regulate light trespass while others limit light trespass to 5 foot candles. In some states, there are dark sky compliance regulations. Most of these issues are easily dealt with, and consequently, these private sports venues are proliferating.
What’s your sport? Talk to an Access Fixtures lighting specialist and watch your sports venue become the focus of activity for your family and friends.