News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Snow covers the breakwall at the harbor in Alpena on Monday afternoon. Later in the day, the Alpena Municipal Council voted to have new lights installed on the breakwall as well as in other areas of the city.

ALPENA — Portions of Alpena could see upgrades to the city’s lighting system after the Alpena Municipal Council voted 4-0 Monday to hire Thunder Bay Electric to install the lights.

The move could help a section of Alpena in its goal to become a Dark Sky park preserve.

The new lights would be installed at the breakwall at the harbor, near Alpena Community College on Johnson Street, and along a portion of Washington Avenue Park along the bi-path.

A second phase of the project could include additional lighting along the bi-path all the way to Sytek Park on Bagley Street.

The new lights would be highly energy efficient and comply with Dark Sky specifications that reduce the amount of light pollution created by lighting fixtures.

The city is attempting to be classified as a Dark Sky park preserve, which protects night skies from light pollution. City lights can make it hard to see stars and other celestial sights and Dark Sky parks usually get set aside for scientific, educational, and enjoyment purposes.

Northeast Michigan has three existing dark sky preserves at Negwegon State Park in Alcona County, Thompson’s Harbor State Park in Presque Isle County, and at Rockport State Recreation Area north of Alpena.

In order for the Tucson, Arizona-based International Dark Sky Association to declare a dark sky area, the area has to record only a certain limit of lumens, a measurement of light.

The proposed project locations would upgrade 21 old brown pedestrian lights on the Alpena Marina breakwall and replace six existing old poles on Johnson Street and 17 along the riverside park on Washington Avenue.

Thunder Bay Electric was the low bidder for the project, which could cost $112,932.

Engineer Steve Shultz said for years the city has moved and swapped out lights from one location to another, and many are in poor shape. He said as part of the city’s new lighting plan and standards, the new lights will be cost effective and provide adequate light to maintain public safety.

He said the bollard lights will be smaller than street lights and are only a few feet tall.

A date for the installation of the new lights was not given.