Published: May 15, 2008 12:22 pm            

Little League wants more lights

Galen Scott

gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com

The Weatherford Little League Association wants to light up two ball parks across from Grace Presbyterian Church near the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Charles Street.

Because the ball parks were built on land entrusted to the City of Weatherford (Soldier Springs Park), and because the city currently provides electricity to the fields at no cost, the Little League is obligated to ask the city for permission before moving forward with its lighting plan, even if the city isn’t contributing money for lighting equipment.

There are currently no city funds budgeted for outdoor lighting at the park.

The Little League doesn’t have enough extra money to pay for the lighting project, but is considering a special fundraiser, according to League Board Member Malinda Farley. But before the Little League commits to a capital campaign, league leaders want a solid commitment from the city council.

Aside from an additional $10,000 to $15,000 per year in electricity costs, the city council is concerned about what impact the additional lighting could have on nearby residents.

The two ball fields are at the southernmost end of the city’s Soldier Springs Park sports complex which houses a total of seven ball fields along Charles Street. Five homes border the outfield fences of both fields on Mockingbird Lane, and dozens of other homes are within one mile of the park.

In 1993, six months of bitter fighting pitted Mockingbird Lane residents against the Little League association. Nighttime lighting at the south fields was a sticking point in the battle, and despite an eventual compromise, the fields stayed dark.

During a work session Tuesday, Farley told Weatherford City Council members equipment needed to light the two fields would probably cost about $120,000. She said new technology the Little League is considering would decrease spill light.

“There should not be hardly any spill light at all into the neighbors behind the ball fields,” she said.

According to Farley, the Little League association invited residents to a “neighborhood meeting” held the Friday after Christmas last year. Out of 25 invitations the league passed out, only one resident, Michael Anderson, attended.

Following Farley’s presentation to the city council, Mayor Dennis Hooks said he would like the Little League to organize another neighborhood meeting.

“I would ask that you really would put more attention into trying to tell those people that the property backs up to what we want to do,” Hooks said. “We tried, but my pleasure would be to try one more time.”

Approximately 110 girls are expected to use the fields regularly for T-ball and softball this season. Boys generally play at fields on the north end of the park, but may use the south fields during tournaments.

Farley confirmed ball games at the south fields are scheduled to take place every night of the week, except on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The Little League says the lights would address a number of safety issues and make scheduling easier by allowing two games, per night, per field. Without lights, only one game can be played on each field before it gets dark.

What’s more, the lights would make it possible to start all girls’ games slightly later at 6 p.m. Currently, start times are adjusted throughout the year to maximize daylight.

On Wednesday, Farley said the league doesn’t have a specific plan yet to garner additional input from residents.

“It will either be in the form of another meeting or ... I’m not sure,” she said. “We’re going to work with [the Weatherford Parks and Recreation Department] to figure out what is the best way to go about this.”

Speaking outside his back door Wednesday — a few yards from one outfield fence — Mockingbird Lane resident Donald Swearingin didn’t seem worried about the effect more lights might have.

“I know we all had a big deal about the lighting at one time, but I think that’s all over now,” he said. “I just get a kick out of watching those little fellows play.”

        

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