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New Lights Could End Fight At White Rock Lake

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Dec 3, 2008 8:35 pm US/Central

New Lights Could End Fight At White Rock Lake

Reporting
Jay Gormley
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― How bright will the future of White Rock Lake be?  That's the battle being fought by neighbors near the lake.  The issue is over lighting. A plan is in the works that may change the way the entire City of Dallas lights its parks, lakes, and streets. 

Six months ago, neighbors along White Rock Lake were at odds over 17 new lights installed by the City of Dallas, near Fisher Road.  Each light stands 20-feet high and puts out 100-watts of electricity. 

After the initial 17 lights were put in, the plan was to install another 35 in other parking lots on the west side of the lake.  In the end,the project was halted and the new lights were only turned on once.

Neighbors complained that too many lights would leave a blinding eye sore along the lake and that sent Dallas Park and Recreation Department worker Willis Winters and a city task force back to the drawing board. 

Six months and two meetings later, it now appears a new plan is gaining momentum; one that calls for fewer lights, shorter poles and a design commonly referred to as "night sky cut off."

"Night Sky Cut Off means all the light goes down to the ground," Willis explained.  "So if you're flying over the lake in the evening, you don't see a bare lamp. You can physically constrict the light with a hood of some type by forcing it to the ground."

The effect can also be achieved with special lenses that reflect the light down.  In either case, it appears to be a compromise, which is just fine with neighbor Patti Capshaw.  "I do think, for the safety of the residents and the people who use the lake, we need some lighting," the White Rock resident admitted.  "On the other hand, I do understand that we don't want huge bright street lights that will detract from the ambiance of the lake."

The original plan was to light the west side of White Rock Lake.  But now the city is looking at installing Night Sky Cut Off Lights around the entire lake.  A proposal is likely to go before the parks and recreation board in March.

As for the 17 lights that have been in the dark for so long; the city says it will likely yank the poles and move them to another part of town.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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