Help Me Hank: Lights out!

During the day the Fallon Field basketball court is packed with players. But once the sun sets look what happens, the courts are nearly deserted. Why? Watch. At 7:45 p.m. it's getting dark!

Darryl, basketball player
"You couldn't see anything."

8 p.m., almost 8:15 p.m., totally dark!

Steven, basketball player
"We just want to play basketball."

By this time only a few stragglers were standing around, occasionally attempting a basket or two.

Isacc, basketball player
"It was like pitch black."

Over the summer the court had been bright, but suddenly it was like who turned out the lights? The basketball court went dark even though across the way the baseball lights were shining bright on an empty field! And the streetlights were also on. But for shooting hoops, no way, not until way too late.

Demetrius, basketball player
"We'd be forced to sit here and wait until 8:30 p.m. for the lights."

To find out why, Demetrius called Boston Parks and Recreation. He was told the league that uses the baseball field had paid for a special permit. But Demetrius kind of thought the lights should be part of the everyday deal.

Demetrius, basketball player
"That's when I was forced to contact you at Channel 7."

We went to Fallon Field after sunset and saw, well nothing! It was too dark!

So we called Parks and Rec. in charge of Boston's 200 plus parks, and they told us - miscommunication - it was not about getting a permit like the baseball team.

This is the real problem; the lights are on timers in boxes like these. Was the Fallon Field timer broken? The park's electrician was on vacation and only he could tell.

But soon as the sun sank slowly into the west, earlier and earlier, the electrician returned and adjusted the timing.

Now the players can stay on the basketball courts past dusk. It's 7:20 p.m. and was that a foul or just good defense? They can easily see to make the call.

Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News Investigative Reporter
This fall city hall will be updating the lights with the changing sunset. After October they'll be turned off for the winter. Check our website for more info. If you're fighting a consumer battle, maybe I can help. Just go to our website and click on “Help Me Hank.” In the newsroom, I'm Hank Phillippi Ryan.

(Copyright (c) 2007 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)