Light up Apopka: City adds 123 new LED streetlights; upgrades 626 others

By Mickenzie Hannon, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice

The City of Apopka installed 123 new LED streetlights and converted 626 existing streetlights to LED, according to Pam Richmond at the July 7th City Council meeting.

Richmond serves as the transportation coordinator for the Apopka Planning and Zoning Division, which executed the streetlight changes. The presentation, led by Richmond, updated the City of Apopka about the streetlight installation and upgrades over the past 18 months.

“We are doing everything that we can with virtually no budget,” Richmond said. "In fact, the 123 new installations were all hung with existing infrastructure."

Park Avenue

The Apopka Planning and Zoning Division focused on upgrades and installations in several locations, starting at Park Avenue. Phase One, which extended from Oak St. to Nancy Lee Lane, saw the completion of 16 streetlight upgrades to Roadway LED lights and 29 new Roadway LED light installations.

Park Avenue Phase Two and Three consisted of 32 upgrades to Roadway LED lights, six new Roadway LED light installations, as well as the replacement of 34 Post Top Ocala and Biscayne HSP lights to K-118 LED lights. Phase Two and Three improvements stretched from Oak St. to Main St. and Main St. to 11th St.

Alonzo Williams Park

In Alonzo Williams Park, Richmond shared, “We added two Roadway lights and K-118 lights.” The Apopka and Zoning Division also upgraded two existing Roadway lights to LED lights around the park. “My understanding about this project is there's some grant money, and when that grant issue is resolved, we will be adding more lights in this area,” she said.

Sandpiper Road

Five existing lights were upgraded to LED lights at Sandpiper Road from Park Avenue to Thompson Road, as well as new Roadway LED lights installed from Sandpiper Road at Park Avenue and Sandpiper Road at Ustler Road.

Northwest Recreation Facility

Kit Land Nelson Park

Many changes occurred in Kit Land Nelson Park, Richmond shared. “We replaced the 10 existing lights and poles with K-118.” she continued, “They put holiday receptacles on the poles around the park and upgraded 22 lights to LED.”

Northwest Recreation Center

Richmond also announced improvements made in the Northwest Recreation Center.

“So far, we have upgraded 148 lights to LED and there are plans for lights in the future.” The Apopka Planning and Zoning Division added three K-118 LED lights around the new playground, upgraded 11 existing lights to LED, and added four Roadway lights.

McGee Avenue

Martin Street

Residents are relieved to see five new LED light installations at Martin St. due to the proximity to Apopka High School.

“We received a lot of calls and received accolades for getting this in there. With the lighting so close to the school, everyone was so happy to see that. It really makes a difference,” Richmond said.

She announced 15 light upgrades to LED lights along E. Fifth St. from Central Avenue to Forest Avenue. The Apopka Planning and Zoning Division also installed 18 new Clermont LED lights at McGee Avenue, added 12 new LED lights to the parking lot at E. 5th St., upgraded 71 existing lights to LED lights at Vick Road, and upgraded 10 existing lights to LED lights at Michael Gladden Road.

5th Street Parking Lot.

Areawide upgrades stretched from north of I-4, south by Michael Gladden, west by Bradshaw and east by Central. Richmond explained, “Our representative Gerry Rooks drove around the area and looked for opportunities where we could just go in and update the existing lights to LED or add additional lights because the infrastructure was there, and so we had 94 of these existing lights just in this area upgraded to LED.”

Hiawassee Road from Apopka Blvd. to US-441.

Future Projects

Richmond also explained potential future projects. There are currently no streetlights along Hiawassee Road from Apopka Boulevard to US 441.

“We get a lot of calls for lights there,” Richmond said. “We have Duke Energy looking into this. They are designing it, and they are going to give us a quote.” With design in its final stages, Duke Energy has recommended 26 new Roadway LED lights on 23 poles. “This is one of those places where there is no infrastructure in place, and this is something we would have to pay for,” Richmond informed the City Council.

Richmond briefly highlighted other future projects:

• 96 streetlight upgrades to LED lights along Jason Dwelley Road from Ponkan Road to Kelly Park Road.
• Six new LED light installations along S. Lake Pleasant Road.
• 7 LED light installations and two existing streetlight upgrades to LED lights along Votaw Road from Park Avenue to Christiana Street.
• Additional parking lot lights at the Northwest Recreational Center.
• The “Superbowl,” or merge, at US 441/SR 436 is also a future project with Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) lights that Apopka is contracted to maintain. With 36 streetlights already located there, Richmond said, “We are at a crossroads,” where the City of Apopka will have to decide to upgrade the existing lights or replace them. “They are almost obsolete, meaning that in the near future, we won't be able to get parts at all, so we might decide to make a change, or we have to figure out what to do there, but it's not going to be an inexpensive fix whatever direction we go,” Richmond explained.

“This project has been a passion for Edward, and he's really the driving force behind this, and I can't tell you of a day that has gone by in the last three or four months that we haven't been dealing with streetlights,” Richmond said. “Between what we are trying to do with Duke Energy and what we are trying to do with D.O.T., it's a task… The part with Duke Energy would not be possible without our partner Gerry Rooks.”

Commissioner Diane Velazquez responded, “I have actually met with Gerry Rooks, and you're right, he's been a great partner.”

Velazquez mentioned the lighting improvements around Wolf Lake Middle and Elementary School on W. Ponkan Road and praised Rooks’s involvement in the project. “It is the relationship that you have been able to cultivate with Gerry Rooks, and he really cares about the lives, because he cares about the students and the schools and just pedestrians in general, and that's part of making our streets safe.”

“From the moment I got involved, that was one of the first things that I really wanted to see happen,” Commissioner Doug Bankson said, referring to the lighting improvements on Ponkan Road. Bankson also addressed the lighting improvements on Sandpiper Road. “Although, the one in front of my house, I wish it wasn’t so bright,” Bankson joked, “but I am glad for the citizens because it is much safer and there is opportunity for more there.”

Commissioner Alexander Smith shared gratitude for the recent lighting improvements. “The citizens are very appreciative. They see the work that is taking place, and they realize it is a process, so they are being patient, but they are excited to see that there is something being done. We want to commend you for what you are doing,” he said.

“I think everybody up here has championed for greater streetlight coverage, because obviously the benefit of having well-lit streets is safer streets, and that lessens the burden on our public safety employees to have to respond to those calls, and unfortunately, many of them have resulted in fatalities,” Commissioner Kyle Becker said.

Mayor Nelson concluded the presentation and council responses by saying, “Light up Apopka!”