Dreaming of Friday night lights: Community comes together to install permanent lighting at Inter-Lakes

MEREDITH — Inter-Lakes Homecoming Weekend started strong, as the varsity football team bested Fall Mountain 20-0 on Oct. 4. Temporary diesel-powered lights illuminated the field, with the crowd watching in the dark on the hills surrounding the field. But after the game, those lights were returned, and Friday night football turns to Saturday afternoon games. One group hopes to change that.

A fundraising initiative to bring permanent lights to the Inter-Lakes High School football field is already gaining community and school support. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has raised over $70,000 out of $346,963, according to the GoFundMe campaign. 

The fundraiser was started by the Inter-Lakes Grandparents’ Club, a group of about 10 people who, like the name suggests, have grandchildren in the school district. Member Bruce Jones said the group started a few months ago with four grandfathers who wanted to bring lights to the field.

“What we're hoping to do, instead of renting lights kind of only one week a year, Homecoming Week, where we're able to get maybe seven games in; instead of doing that, we are trying to raise money to buy permanent lights,” Jones said.

Jones said the school has a nice field, and the lights would be a worthy investment for it.

“We have this beautiful astroturf field with a track and this gorgeous sunset view of the White Mountains,” he said.

“It wouldn't be possible without kids to parents to staff to community to grandparents,” Superintendent Mary Moriarty said of the fundraiser. “We’re working together to try to make all this happen.”

Meredith Village Savings Bank made a $50,000 donation. MVSB President Marcus Weeks said that as a mutual bank, they are interested in supporting their community. After speaking to members of the Inter-Lakes Grandparents' Club, he believed the lights were a good investment.

“They made a really good case that it was an important asset that would benefit the students and student athletes," Weeks said. "And we felt like it was a really good way to support them."

Donations of $50,000 or more will be recognized on the bottom of the scoreboard for 25 years and acknowledged through announcements at evening field events for two years following the light installations. Donations of $25,000 or more will be honored with a plaque on a light post for 25 years.

Varsity Football Coach Guy Donnelly said as fall days in New Hampshire get dark early, and thinks lights could increase practice and game time, not just for football, but all sports and extracurriculars that use the field.

“In another week or so, it's going to get dark pretty early, and we're hoping to play in the playoffs, and it's going to be dark,” Donnelly said. “We have brought in lights in the past for practice, but it gives you more practice time for all our programs this time of year.”

The Lakers' record so far this season is 4-1.

During Homecoming Week, diesel-powered lights are rented at a cost of $500 per night. While they are a good temporary option, they still have their issues. They leave dark spots in the end zones and corners, which isn’t ideal for referees making calls, are loud and smell badly. The permanent lights would cost $12 per night to run, with a steep cost up front. Inter-Lakes Facilities Manager Brian Swanker said permanent lights would be safer to use as well. He spoke to the original purpose of the rental lights.

“These are made for construction sites and temporary lighting for emergencies, but we're using them for one night,” he said. “If they were better, we'd use them every night. But obviously, the proper thing to do is have safe, proper lighting.”

Swanker said lights would be powered by solar panels on campus, which would make permanent lights a greener option than the temporary lights.

Moriarty said the district has not been able to fund the lights through the budget. Things like special education costs have gone up in the last few years and have made it harder to prioritize different needs.

“To add it to the taxpayer responsibility, it's that balancing act,” Moriarty said. “That's why, really, they have waited, because other needs have had to be a greater priority.”

Jones believes getting the lights would snowball into more additions to the field, like a press box and stadium seating. But Inter-Lakes Principal Amanda Downing said it’s one step at a time.

“We can always plan for the future, but right now, the focus is the lights,” she said.

Adding lighting is also expected to bring more people to games. Dean of Students Charles Femia said lights can affect school culture.

“We have hundreds of kids here on a Friday night doing something wholesome with the community,” he said. “I think that this is something they look forward to all the time. So, if we had this on a regular basis, it would be really productive for us overall.”

An initiative to fundraise for lights in 2013 led by elementary school Principal Steve Kelley had a lot of support, but did not raise enough funds. More than 10 years later, the district is attempting the endeavor once again. Jones hopes enough money will be raised by 2025 graduation to install lights in time for Homecoming 2025.

Jones said Inter-Lakes' Charles G. Burrows Memorial Athletic Field was constructed in 1975. If the fundraiser this year goes as planned, the lights will be installed for the field’s 50th anniversary.

“Next homecoming will be the 50th anniversary of this field,” Jones said. “And so it's really kind of fun that it's coming together, that it's possible that on the 50th anniversary of the Burrows field, we would have new lights installed.”

To support the fundraiser, visit gofundme.com/f/il-lights. The concession stand at home games will also accept donations by check or cash, and checks payable to Inter-Lakes School District with “Lights Campaign” in the memo line can be mailed to Inter-Lakes School District, 103 Main St., Meredith, NH 03253.