Updated 11/6/2025

Thank you to the members of the community for attending last night’s community Q&A on the multipurpose field lighting project. Please note – all future updates on this project, along with FAQs and timelines, will be posted on the Fairport for the Future 2023 Capital Improvement Project page here.

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Updated 10/30

 

The District will hold a community Q&A on November 5 at Fairport High School to share information about and gather feedback on an opportunity to install infrastructure and lighting in parts of the Fairport High School athletic complex at NO additional cost to the taxpayer. 

 

Please join us on Wednesday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Fairport High School, Room 512 for:

• A brief presentation from the District on this project AND the ZERO additional cost impact on taxpayers
• A draft timeline developed for installation/completion of this project
• An open Q&A with stakeholders and District administrators

If you would like to provide the District with information or thoughts in advance of Wednesday’s forum, or if you are unable to attend, please submit your question or comment at this link. The District will compile a list of questions and answers and share them with the community.

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What athletic fields would it affect?

• This project would allow the entire multipurpose turf field and complex to be illuminated. This does not include the track and field complex and/or the tennis courts.
• This field and complex hosts practices and/or competitions for almost all of Fairport’s interscholastic athletic teams, including:
  • Baseball (all levels)
  • Softball (all levels)
  • Boys and Girls soccer (all levels)
  • Football (all levels)
  • Flag football (all levels)
  • Boys and Girls lacrosse (all levels)
  • Field hockey (all levels)

 

Why would this project have no additional impact on taxpayers?

• Construction Bids for the voter-approved Fairport for the Future 2023 Capital Improvement Project were received in April 2025. Those bids came in favorably and were accepted and awarded for the full construction scope approved by voters in October 2023.
• Through the bidding and bid award process and because of those favorable bids, the District identified unallocated funds that can be used exclusively for additional scope within the referendum approved by voters in October 2023. Applying these funds toward the cost of the lighting construction and installation work will allow us to add this scope to the project at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

 

What does the proposal entail?

• The District has the ability to run conduit and fiber underground and install lighting poles around the perimeter of the multipurpose fields
• These lights will be both energy and cost efficient and will be designed to have minimal light pollution outside of the playing fields. 

 

Why add an installation project now?

• Our fields are constantly being used by school and community members and there is a demand for increased access after daylight. In addition, as the 2026-2027 school start and end times shift, this lighting will accommodate the needs of our interscholastic athletics. 

• The bids for work on the 2023 Capital Improvement Project came in under budget. After the bids were awarded, the remaining funds could then be set aside and allocated to additional work that was included in the authorized referendum, but was not part of the original scope of the project. 
• Because the trenching and installation work of lighting around the multipurpose field falls into this category, the funds allocated for the 2023 Capital Improvement Project can be used here. Any trenching and installation work proposed *after or *outside of the 2023 Capital Improvement Project WOULD have an additional cost to the taxpayer. This scope addition has NO additional cost to the taxpayer.

 

Why does this work not include lights for the new track and field complex?

• The District is managing two separate, ongoing projects. Each project was approved by a different referendum in the Fairport for the Future 2023 Capital Improvement Project. 
• The first project includes the new STEAM addition, library alterations and the Martha Brown renovations. The second portion of the project is the new track and field complex. Each project has its own voter-approved authorization and the district cannot spend more funds than what the voters authorized. 
• The track and field project does not have enough unspent funds to afford lights at this time. The district will continue to analyze the two projects, understanding the importance of lights and the impact they will have on our students and community.

 

What is the timeline for the proposed installation?

• The District plans to submit plans for the project to NYSED in March of 2026
• Approval from NYSED is estimated between July and September 2026
• Estimated construction and installation (dependent on supply chain) would be between December 2026 and October 2027