Foley's soccer fields are set to shine brighter and more efficiently following City Council's approval of new LED lighting for several facilities.

The council voted to install the upgraded lighting at three soccer fields in Ralph Schumacher Soccer Park, with plans to extend lighting to the adjacent parking lot.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the decision is part of a broader effort to modernize the city's recreational facilities while cutting costs. The new LED lights are expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption, offering both environmental and financial benefits.

"It will pay for itself very quickly with the small usage of electricity used compared to the current lighting," Hellmich said.

The lighting overhaul at Schumacher Park is the latest in a series of improvements across Foley. Last year, Mel Roberts Park saw a similar upgrade to LED systems, part of an ongoing effort to improve energy efficiency across the city.

David Thompson, Foley's executive director for leisure services, emphasized that upgrading to LED was essential not just for cost savings but also due to the difficulty in maintaining the current system.

"The lighting needs to be upgraded to LED," Thompson said. "We're having trouble sourcing the metal halides that we have. This will also allow us to light some of the parking lot that we don't have lit today."

The plan includes replacing the lights on Soccer Fields 1, 2 and 3 at Schumacher Park, as well as installing new lighting in the parking lot to the west of the fields. Thompson noted that the lot is not near any residential areas, ensuring that nearby homes won't be impacted by the additional lighting.