After several community meetings and discussions, the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) is moving forward with permit requests for new lights on five athletic fields.
The suite of special use permits is scheduled for review at the Thursday, Oct. 6, Planning Commission meeting.
The RPCA is requesting permits for lights on the following fields:
- Francis C Hammond Middle School
- George Washington Middle School
- Jefferson Houston Elementary School
- Patrick Henry Elementary School and Recreation Center
- Simpson Stadium Park Athletic Field
The new field lighting is part of the City Council 2022 Community Priority to Support Youth and Families, which outlines goals of extending capacity for youth programs and providing more equitable access to facilities and services.
City officials have previously said that it’s unlikely that all five fields will get lighting simultaneously. As the program is rolled out over the next few years, Jack Browand, division chief of Parks and Cultural Activities, said the two middle schools and Jefferson Houston are better positioned to get lighting sooner rather than later. Ongoing work at Patrick Henry and Eugene Simpson Stadium mean the fields can’t be lighted until 2024 and 2025 respectively.
