Most park lighting is sensor-triggered and usually directed downwards. It is only activated when required for the most part. Parks are now getting rid of inefficient lighting fixtures to conserve energy. The park lighting practices are aiming to ensure that they maintain a balance of considering light pollution reduction, safety, the needs of the public and efficiency.

Light pollution reduction filters are designed to only allow certain wavelengths of light through. These are the wavelengths of light that are produced by artificial light. Because unseen moisture on concrete can cause a hazard with regard to slipping the areas around fountains and public restrooms need to have brighter lighting than other areas.

The use of daylight and motion sensors on all light fittings should help to achieve considerable energy saving. Responsible lighting practices are part of the park lighting policies as lighting is a large part of the total energy consumption worldwide. Any low level lighting in parks are fitted now with low energy lamps as standard practice.

Using lighting controls manages to conserve up to 50% energy. Lighting is an architectural feature and it also helps to create a dramatic and safe environment at night for any visitors so it plays an integral role in the development design for parks. Up-lighting the trees with a color changing fixture in the area surrounding the seating area allows the park designers to integrate colors manually on the trees in the park.

When appropriate the services of a lighting engineer are used to design an area which provides a uniform level of good light across the park and helps to eliminate dark spots.

Car park lighting is controlled independently in order to allow 80 per cent of light to be activated via presence detection and the remaining 20 per cent to be on at all times for safety purposes. Light radiating at a subdued intensity level at the bottom of stairways ensures that people can see where they are walking clearly but they are unaware of the source of the light. The lighting is provided by park lighting bollards which can line fountain areas, rotundas and sidewalks.