One Portland park remaining in city's Light Pole Safety Project

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland is just one site away from restoring light at city parks, approximately three months after parks leaders announced the project was “nearly complete.”

According to Portland Parks and Recreation spokesperson Mark Ross, Pittock Acres Park is the final site that needs to be addressed in the city's Light Pole Safety Project. Crews plan to replace three lights and install three more.

Officials don’t have an official completion date for the project, as staff is still awaiting materials for the final site — but they could arrive this week.

In early 2023, PP&R started removing more than 200 light poles that had “been identified as having structural anchoring issues which could pose life and safety hazards to the public.” A local caretaker sued the city and a hammock company over the issue this year, alleging that she and a young boy were injured by a light pole at Irving Park in 2022.

But after crews began the removal project, residents quickly expressed safety concerns over the lack of light in local parks. In response, Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan issued an emergency ordinance that allowed the parks department to buy the needed replacements.

Overall, the project is estimated to cost $15 million. A portion of the funding covers new LED lights, which officials reported are 66% “more efficient” than the pre-existing ones. They also last longer.

“The fixtures will be Dark Sky-friendly and will be fully shielded to prevent skyward ‘spill,’” PP&R said. “They will be directed at park pathways with less light pointed at neighboring homes. The new light poles and fixtures were selected to replicate the previous ones as closely as possible, and the lights will be automatically programmed to remain on from dusk to dawn.”

With 88 and 65 new lights respectively, Mt. Tabor Park and Irving Park have led as the sites with the most replacements.