Manatee County Commission approves additional lighting for Braden River Soccer Club fields

After years of playing in the dark, soccer fields hidden in the back corner of Braden River Soccer Club facility will soon have lighting for the more than 100 children who practice on the three fields currently in the dark.

Because the fields are part of a county-owned park, the club needed the Manatee County Commission's approval before installing lights. Commissioners approved the project at its Nov. 3 meeting.

The group plans to have the lights installed within a year. The project is slated to cost $45,000.

But as sunset times start earlier during the holiday months, parents hope the fields will be lit soon.

"The winter months are the biggest problem time for us," soccer parent Candice McElyea said. "It's sometimes so dark I can't even see my children play."

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].