SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — As the fall season looms closer, the Safety Harbor Little League finds itself with a much-needed reprieve following a pivotal city commission meeting held on Monday.
Faced with pressing concerns, the league has been advocating for the urgent repair of multiple light systems at the city park, a venue integral for the games involving over 400 young participants.
“It’s heartbreaking,” expressed Sean Hackett, a committed coach with the league. “As a parent and coach, you strive for community engagement. Watching kids I’ve trained for years unable to play due to faulty lighting is simply absurd.”
The lighting setup has remained untouched since 2017, frequently plunging the fields into darkness during peak baseball hours, league coaches lament. Estimates from city officials suggest that restoring the lighting across all five fields could ring up to a hefty $800,000 bill.
City commissioners approved a “re-lamping” off the facilities, for approximately $50,000. The process includes replacing bulbs, offering a temporary fix for the upcoming season and a timeline of one to two years, according to public works.
“I consider this a city failure and hopefully we do a better job to not get to this point on issues like this,” said Commissioner Kevin Shanks.