TURNERS FALLS — The Unity Skate Park lights were flicked on for the first time on Friday evening, allowing for skaters’ extended use into the evening hours and for continued wintertime use.

Montague Selectboard Chair Richard Kuklewicz was the one to flip the switch as Montague Parks & Recreation Director Jon Dobosz and Montague Parks & Recreation Commission Secretary Jeff Singleton stood by.

Dobosz said the project offers the opportunity to keep the park in use throughout the entire year. As winter becomes more mild with days that are still shorter, Dobosz said the lights will allow people to use the park after dark when they get out of school or work throughout the year.

The Montague Selectboard voted in May to approve the use of $95,998 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the lighting project. Unity Skate Park opened in 2016, with construction, at a cost of nearly $400,000, having been approved during the 2014 Annual Town Meeting.

“It was expressed to me more than once by skate park users that it would be great to have lights here, not only for the summer when it’s getting hotter [during daylight hours] … but also during the winter when it gets darker around 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.,” Dobosz said. “It’s an expansion of services. We thank the Selectboard for making it happen with our ARPA funding.”

The two new lights, installed by Central Mass Signal LLC of Northborough, sit on either side of the skate park, with three light panels offering surrounding coverage. Dobosz previously explained the lights are designed to minimize light pollution for residents living nearby. The lights will stay on until 10 p.m.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.