The cracking of bats can already be heard at Bridgeport City Park as Bridgeport Little League and Bridgeport Girls Softball Association has already started practice. Next week, participants of Bridgeport Soccer Association program will be joining them on fields located at the City Park complex.

 

Timing is just right for the new lights which have been installed and are up and running, said Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton.

 

To the tune of about $265,000, the football/multipurpose and softball fields at City Park have been lit up. Additionally, lights at Little League and soccer fields have been upgraded, specifically new controls installed.

 

“The controls for those lights have been upgraded so that if a coach wants to practice at night, then he calls Musco Lighting  control link at an 800 number, give them the user name and password and they turn them on,” Burton said. “It’s all 

done by remote control.”

 

Musco Lighting is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

 

That upgrade had a price tag of about $12,800, but will pay off in energy savings and efficiency.

 

“That’s how we do our billing to Little League, soccer or other associations,” Burton said. “That’s how we determine what to charge each group.”

 

Lights at Bridgeport Recreation Complex operate in the same manner, he said.

 

The new lights installed have a 25-year warranty.

 

“The ballasts – and everything – are covered,” Burton said. 

 

Photos by Don Burton