Summerville City Council has taken a significant step towards modernizing its recreational infrastructure, approving a $735,000 contract with Musco Sports Lighting LLC to overhaul lighting at all city ball fields, including those at the Fairway Recreation Center. The substantial investment, budgeted for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and dramatically improving the playing experience for local athletes and spectators.

During a recent council meeting, officials detailed the scope of the project, which involves replacing outdated fixtures with state-of-the-art LED systems across four major fields. The breakdown of costs for these key locations includes:

Fairway Field: $230,000
Morgan Field: $214,500
Dunson Field: $143,500
Mitchell Field: $147,000

The acquisition of the new lighting systems will leverage a cooperative purchasing agreement with Sourcewell, a strategy designed to streamline the procurement process and ensure competitive pricing.

Adam Wilson, Summerville’s Director of Parks and Recreation, emphasized the long-term benefits of the Musco Lighting System, describing it as a “turnkey project” backed by an impressive 25-year warranty covering both parts and labor.

“There’s no maintenance cost for 25 years,” Wilson stated, highlighting the significant operational savings the city anticipates. He also noted the system’s advanced control link scheduling app, which will empower staff to efficiently manage lighting schedules and further reduce energy consumption. The transition to LED technology is expected to deliver a substantial reduction in energy usage compared to the current metal halide fixtures.

Wilson expressed confidence in the project’s timeline, assuring the council, “‘They’re able to work with our timeline to be able to get this project started and finished before our season starts again next year.'”

Musco Sports Lighting is renowned for providing high-quality lighting solutions for sports and entertainment venues, focusing on improved visibility, safety, and fan experience through innovative LED and total light control technology. Their systems offer features such as energy efficiency, glare control, and remote control capabilities.

The council also addressed the project’s ambitious timeline. Following the issuance of a purchase order, Musco is anticipated to mobilize within six to eight weeks, with the goal of completing the installation before the next sports season commences, ensuring minimal disruption to local leagues and events.

This upgrade signifies a major commitment from Summerville City Council to enhance community recreation and provide top-tier, energy-efficient facilities for its residents for decades to come.