Lighting options for Four Seasons Park deferred to future budget deliberations

BEAUMONT -- Beaumont's Four Seasons Park will remain without operational lighting until at least next year.

This comes after City Council voted this week to defer discussions on any possible repairs or replacements to their 2027 budget deliberations, which will take place this coming fall. The fixture at the park, which had previously provided lighting for Don Sparrow Lake, has been non-operational since 2024 and will remain that way until at least next fiscal year.

At their meeting on Feb. 10, Beaumont staff provided three options regarding the lighting at Four Seasons Park. The first option presented was a plan to repair the current light fixture. It's estimated that the cost to access the light fixture, remove old lights, rewire, install new LED lights, and install bird deterrents would have been $30,000.

The second option presented was a plan to decommission the light fixture and install brand-new lighting around Don Sparrow Lake, with costs ranging anywhere from $140,000 to north of $250,000. Neither of these options were recommended by administration.

The final option, which was approved by Beaumont Council, was to take no action and leave the light fixture in place and not repair it. The rationale behind this option was that it required no funding commitments and would not draw from critical financial reserves to impact future projects. Beaumont Councillor Paul Heide was the lone member of Council to vote against the motion to take no action.

"We as a Council had decided that we were going to use Don Sparrow Lake again this year for skating and activities on the lake," said Councillor Heide. "I believe that the lighting is a part of that."

Councillor Heide wasn't alone in his apprehension, as both Nathan Netelenbos and Steven Van Nieuwkerk also expressed their hesitation in moving forward with no repairs to the current lighting fixture. However, Councillor Van Nieuwkerk acknowledged the worry of Beaumont staff about dipping into financial reserves.

"It pains me to make this motion," said Van Nieuwkerk. "I wish it would be more cost-effective to fix the light that was there. I can tell administration has really lifted up the rocks and looked for some options for what can be done. It's just in a really tough spot."

A subsequent motion tabled by Mayor Lisa Vanderkwaak directed administration to bring the matter back before Council during their 2027 budget deliberations this coming fall. At that time, it's expected that additional discussion will take place for potential options for lighting at Four Seasons Park.