The Carroll City Council approved a contract with an engineering firm at their meeting earlier this week to begin the process of installing additional lighting in Graham Park. Parks and Recreation Director Chad Tiemeyer says the contract with McClure Engineering outlines the company’s role throughout the project.
The professional services agreement with McClure for contract work totals $70,200. The city has already allocated $275,000 for construction and equipment purchases, but it is still too early for a reasonable project estimate. Cody Forch, an engineer and project leader with McClure, says planning and design are more involved than just picking dark spots in the park and building a light post.
Graham Park is a central part of Carroll’s recreational district, but the park becomes almost unusable after sunset, even though the park is technically open until midnight. Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton has been the primary proponent for additional lighting and says it is also a safety concern.
Once McClure completes its initial review, the council will need to weigh in on how many fixtures they want installed in the park, which ones will be on continuously after dusk, and how to mitigate light pollution for adjacent properties. Those decisions will be made at future council meetings. The project is tentatively scheduled to go out for bid by the end of 2026.
