Commission Approves $1.3M For Lighting Upgrades At Sokol Park

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission was on the receiving end of some good news Wednesday, as cost savings for LED field lighting upgrades at Sokol Park were presented and unanimously approved.

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Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority Executive Director Gary Minor was on hand to deliver the update, saying that the project to add LED lighting to six baseball and softball fields originally came in around $1.3 million.

However, Minor said with the new estimate for the project, it will cost roughly $1.31 million to install lighting not just at the ball fields for Sokol South, but also for the soccer field at Sokol North, effectively allowing PARA to undertake two projects for the price the county was initially willing to pay for one.

"It's pretty good news," Minor said. "We're almost getting that extra project for the original estimate we gave you. If you do them separately, it would be $1,462, 900 [for the total project]."

He then said the soccer field at Sokol North was not part of the original estimate, but once it was factored in during the bidding process, the savings became clear.

"We don’t ever get good news on prices," District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson said.

The project will be covered by reimbursable funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The improvements also come not a moment too soon, with five years passing since the lights were damaged in a storm, resulting in the entire system being shutdown. As Patch previously reported, the current defunct lighting system is roughly 30 years old, making repairs less practical than a wholesale replacement of the system with new-age LED lighting that PARA officials say would provide a better product and a worthwhile longterm investment.

What's more, as PARA gets ready to host the Dixie Youth Division I and II World Series tournament at Bowers Park Sports Complex in 2023, Minor pointed out that the teams will need practice space with adequate lighting.

"The night lights will help with our own needs," he said, "plus tourism-type tournaments, so it's a win."

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