Four new lighting masts are now ready to shed some light on Curtis Field in Rocky Mountain House.
Officials say it’ll not only extend the hours in which football can be played at the field, but also will provide light for rugby and year-round activities such as the skating oval in the winter.
Doug Laut, president of the Rocky Mountain House and District Minor Football Association says the project is a culmination of efforts which began in 2018.
During that period, the organization successfully received a nearly $113,000 grant from the provincial Community Facility Enhancement Grant (CFEP), while the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County each pitched in $118,500.
The organization also dealt with price fluctuations, as Laut says the project’s initial $255,000 budget ballooned. For instance, Laut says the costs of the masts themselves increased from $70,000 to around $120,000 in just a few years.
In the end, Laut says the project came in at around $400,000.
“The town really did sort of rally around this,” says Laut. “The value of those lights is well north of $400,000 by the time you take in all of the in-kind donations and services that were provided for free and that kind of stuff to make those lights a reality.”
New lighting masts in Rocky Mountain House during the day. (Photo by Serina Taylor/provided)
Laut says the project wouldn’t have been possible if not for generous contributions of local businesses. Local contractors donated resources to complete tasks such as engineering, surveying, pouring concrete, crane work and trucking among others.
All of the services to complete the project were provided by local contractors, says Laut, with the exception of directional boring underneath the football field which was provided by a Red Deer company.
Laut says many people will get their first up-close glimpse of the new lights on Aug. 31, as the Town of Rocky Mountain House has an outdoor movie planned that day.
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Officials add the lighting at Curtis Field is now to a quality where it could host a provincial tournament, as Football Alberta has minimum lighting standards required to host certain events.
“It’s lit up like daylight when they’re on down there. It’s amazing.” say Laut.
Before the lights, Laut says football games would be played during daylight hours, however, he adds after-school practices were sometimes a challenge as the days grew shorter.
Laut adds to test drive the new lights, the organization is planning a night game at some point during September, as well as a special community ‘Football Day’ celebration on Sept. 14.
Rocky Mountain House and District Minor Football Association officials say the program is wide-ranging with programs for kids as young as five, all the way up to the high school program.
As head coach of the bantam Rebels football team, Laut says while a great roster is ready to take the field during the fast-approaching season, the bantam team could use a few new recruits.
The season kicks off Saturday Aug 31. at Curtis Field with the bantams playing an exhibition game against Ponoka.
The peewee Rebels will kick off the regular season the same day, also against Ponoka.
New lighting masts at Curtis Field in Rocky Mountain House at night. (Photo by Doug Laut/provided)
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