Seeing the Light: new lights installed in Bigfork

The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork has seen the light.

The community organization recently began implementing light pollution controls downtown as part of the Dark Sky Initiative, and it was the idea of local attorney Peter Leander.

Leander said the foundation is trying to make Bigfork the greenest resort town in Montana and be a flagship for doing the right things ecologically. Participating in the Dark Sky Initiative is just part of that.

By reducing light pollution, the light diffusers create a “cool nicer softer ambiance for the town,” Leander said. The foundation is encouraging and working with businesses to reduce light pollution, and it is not being done by dictate, he noted.

The foundation contracted with Tim Kittle of Bigfork Electric to repair lighting on the town’s public dock.

This resulted in light diffusers being placed on seven light poles on the dock off Grand Avenue next to Swan River Inn.

As part of his work, Kittle installed 35-watt LED lights on the poles, rewired them and placed a light diffuser and new covering, or acorn, over the lights. The lights and diffusers should last five years, Kittle said. Two bollards, small posts with lights inside, located next to the walkway on the way down to the dock, were also repaired as part of the $3,000 project.

The wiring and bollards needed to be repaired due to damage from boats and vandals, Kittle said. He obtained approval from the county, but the funding was provided by the foundation. The foundation’s board would like to expand on the idea to cover all of the downtown’s street lights.

Foundation President Paul Mustacio said the board plans to retrofit 20 light poles once it can raise $12,000 to $13,000 required to do so.

The foundation is working with Flathead Electric Cooperative on the project, he said. Mustacio said the foundation wants Kittle to use state of the art lighting on the project. Mustacio added that the foundation initially installed the poles a number of years ago, and Mark “Mister” Langlois regularly changes the bulbs. Business owners pay for the electricity the lights use, Mustacio said.

Leander said the foundation would like Bigfork businesses on Montana 35 to join in the project and help reduce light pollution as well.