Memorial Field is currently State College Area High School’s only athletic field that can be used after dark, but that will soon be changing.
The school board already approved lighting for the new field on the north side of the State High campus. Now it’s begun taking steps to add lights to the South Track facility.
On Monday, the board unanimously authorized district administrators to prepare preliminary documents for lighting the South Track and to submit a request to State College Borough for a related zoning amendment.
In a memo to the board, Ed Poprik, district director of physical plant, wrote that because of the location of the auditorium and music wing in the new south high school building, the field at the South Track would be the preferred location for evening band practices. Lighting at also would help address the need for additional athletic field capacity.
Poprik said the district next will need to request a text amendment to the borough’s zoning ordinance to allow for sports lighting, up to 70 feet high, in the R3B zoning district.
The amendment will go to State College Borough Council, which then would need to refer it to planning commission for a recommendation. A public presentation will be required before final consideration by council. Poprik said the process takes several months to complete.
If the amendment is approved, administrators will provide a capital financing presentation to the school board prior to requesting approval for the project.
In August, the school board approved a proposal from Musco Sports Lighting to install field lighting for $437,220 at the new north field. Poprik said at the time that the district is working with the borough to ensure that lighting complies with borough ordinances and does not disrupt surrounding neighborhoods.
The north field is expected to be ready for use in the spring.
