“Liberty is proud to be included in a solar-lighting test, which we are confident will work to the benefit of our taxpayers, our public and the environment. This is the way of the future.” — Frank DeMayo, Supervisor of the town of Liberty.
Solar-Powered Light Poles Light Up The Night
Night time has been safer at Swan Lake Park in Liberty, N.Y., thanks to the installation of 14-foot-tall solar-powered light poles. In 2008, Swan Lake Park became one of the first to take advantage of solar-powered light-emitting diodes (LED) lights that are powerful enough for practical commercial outdoor-area applications. Recreational park crews can place outdoor light poles anywhere on the grounds without running long-distance, high-voltage underground lines because the lights are powered by the sun’s energy instead of being plugged into an electrical grid.
Swan Lake is one of four hamlets in Liberty. Years ago, the town was a trendy tourist spot and home to Grossinger’s, the famous resort hotel, and the center of “Borscht Belt” comedy acts. While those days are now part of its rich history, Liberty still boasts several town parks and golf courses, including the award-winning municipally-owned Swan Lake Park, named for the swans that have inhabited the 3 1/2-mile private lake surrounding the park.
The LED lights that brighten Swan Lake Park are part of a solar street light demonstration project co-funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The supervising agency of the project is Sullivan Renaissance, a beautification and community development program.
The economic benefits of installing an outdoor solar-powered lighting system are tremendous. And unlike traditional electrical generation, solar power is clean because it burns no fossil fuels.