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Seattle parks leaving lights on to discourage fireworks

SEATTLE — Although there aren't any activities scheduled, Seattle Parks and Recreation is turning on the lights Thursday night at 13 of its play fields.  It’s hoping that by leaving those lights on until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., it will discourage people from setting off fireworks through the Fourth of July holiday.

“We want to protect our investment. These fields are very well used,” said parks department spokesman David Takami.

Fireworks can burn and seriously damage synthetic artificial turf.

Takami said several years ago, it happened at the Delridge playfield.

“The replacement of that small portion of the turf was $10,000,” Takami said.

The cost of replacing the surface of a full field is more than $1 million.

The playfields are also going to be watched by security guards. They’ll be patrolling the parks between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. to try to protect the turf even after the lights are turned off.