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Three softball fields could get lights soon

The five-year plan calls for every baseball and softball public school team to be able to play at night.

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 26, 2001

Next season, the Boca Ciega, Pinellas Park and Tarpon Springs softball teams could be playing home games at night, under the lights.

And if everything goes as planned, every public school softball and baseball team in the county will be playing night games within the next five years.

The Pinellas County school district's five-year construction program has earmarked $765,634 over the next four years for "gender equity playfields." County athletic director Bob Hosack said that would mean lights for those softball and baseball facilities in need.

"We have identified three softball fields where we are going to put in lights. We are making a commitment to get that done," Hosack said. "We're doing it to satisfy gender equity concerns.

"We're planning to look at softball and baseball fields, and we're trying to equalize throughout the county."

The money is to be distributed annually. It costs approximately $58,000 to install lights at a new softball field, Hosack said.

Assistant superintendent Jerry Runkle, who is in charge of the five-year plan, rounded that figure up to $60,000 and multiplied it by three to get this year's allotment of $180,000.

Adjusting about 3 percent for inflation, the figures go up slightly each year, and Runkle said a fifth year, at a cost of $202,600 (bringing the total to $968,234), could be added.

"It's one of the recommendations we have right now," Runkle said.

"Aug. 13, it will be finalized by the capital outlay committee."

The final step in the process is the approval of the school board on Sept. 11.

"I'm not sure what the percentage (chance the proposal is approved) would be, but the gender equity playground is something that we should do because of our overall gender equity plan," Runkle said.

"This fits in. The board will be very pleased with this, I think."

Tarpon Springs, Pinellas Park and Boca Ciega's fields were chosen first in part because the schools are balanced between the north (Tarpon Springs) central (Pinellas Park) and south (Boca Ciega) regions of the county.

"Tarpon Springs is just getting a new field, so it's ideal timing to put lights in," Hosack said. "Pinellas Park, because they've had lights in the past ... and Boca Ciega because they've just recently been refurbished and built up."

Because most parents work during the day, one of the primary advantages to night games is increased parental attendance.

"Playing the games at night helps with transportation and attendance," Hosack said.

Should the funding be approved, the county would have to determine which fields are chosen to receive lights each year. Hosack said even though only softball fields were selected for this year, softball won't take priority.

The goal is to get all softball and baseball facilities lighted.

"We have fewer softball fields with lights, (but) you've got to consider both," Hosack said.

"You can't do one more than the other."

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