No final decision on Furman Park lights

City council members discussed installing field lights at Furman Park but didn’t make a final decision. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY — Potential plans for additional lighting at the Furman Park baseball fields moved forward on Tuesday, however a final decision on whether or not they will be installed is still months away.

According to a report by city staff, approximately four light poles would be added between the west end of both fields and the existing trees, with approximately five additional lights added between the outfield section of both fields and a new tee ball field, along the third base side of the northernmost field near new trees and along the first base side of the southernmost field.

While supporters of Northwest Downey Little League (which plays at Furman) and youth sports have come out in support of the lights for prolonged field access, residents of the neighborhood directly neighboring the park and its fields have voiced concerns over privacy, parking, and nuisance.

Councilwoman Claudia Frometa acknowledged both sides of the argument Tuesday, emphasizing the need to “balance the need for safety.”

“As we look at our parks, it is incumbent on this city council to listen to our residents, yes, but also to ensure that our parks have the proper lighting needed to ensure that our pedestrians, that our community residents that are walking the trails feel safe,” said Frometa.

She added that local sports teams should be the prioritized over travel ball teams for field use.

“This is our community park, and therefore the priority is going to be our community, and our community residents, and our community children,” said Frometa. “There is no reason why they should be having to practice in Santa Fe Springs, or South Gate, or any other community when they are Downey leagues, and Downey residents.

“Furthermore, we will ensure that there is no travel ball teams playing in those fields…No, we won’t be opening up for travel ball teams, because that is disruptive to our neighborhoods, where you have [games] January through December every single weekend; that does disrupt the lives of our community.”

The lights would be a part of the Furman Park Stormwater Infiltration Project, which was added to the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list as part of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget. Plans for the potential lighting are still in the design phase, and no operational details – such as when the lights would be turned off each night – have been decided. The city is anticipating entering a resident feedback period later this year.

The entire Stormwater Infiltration Project is slated to begin early next year and conclude in 2026.