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Cheektowaga accepts donation of 120 LED stadium lights from Buffalo Bills for town parks
Summary
The town board accepted a donation of LED stadium lighting fixtures from the Buffalo Bills and authorized contractors to remove and transfer the equipment; town staff said the lights could upgrade multiple diamonds and reduce operating costs versus current fixtures.
The Cheektowaga Town Board on June 9 voted to accept a donation from the Buffalo Bills of lighting fixtures salvaged from the former Highmark Stadium lighting towers. The donation was described in the resolution as two lighting standards that together would yield 120 LED sports fixtures; the board authorized vendor work to remove and take possession of the fixtures.
The board approved a Ferguson Electric proposal of $34,945 for crane operations and demolition work to remove the lighting standards and a separate Power and Construction Group quote for up to $4,800 to uninstall and transfer the LED fixtures on the town’s behalf. Parks Director Mark Mez told the board the fixtures were only two to three years old and could replace aging, non‑LED lights at Lawson Park and other town diamonds; he characterized the gift as “a blessing without a doubt.”
Town staff said converting an existing diamond to modern LED lights previously carried capital estimates near $50,000–$60,000, making the donated fixtures a large potential cost‑saver if the town follows through on reinstallation and associated power work. The board asked parks staff to inventory the fixtures, prepare a plan for storage and redistribution across town parks, and return with a cost proposal and implementation timeline.
Why this matters: LED fixtures use less electricity and reduce recurring maintenance and lift‑rental costs for the town’s electricians; the donation gives Ch eektowaga an opportunity to improve park lighting for youth sports with less up‑front town expenditure than buying new fixtures.
