News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Local soccer stars will look to shine even brighter as the Putnam County Parks and Recreation Department is set to begin bidding out a project to install new lights at the Putnam County Soccer Complex.
Parks and Recreation Director Cody Maynard said the two additional fields will come with lighting which will allow for more nighttime play. Maynard said the project also includes converting the current lights to LED lights.
“For the soccer complex, it’s gonna be an awesome conversion,” Maynard said. “Just switching from the metal highlight lights to the LED lights in itself will be a great savings. Better lit fields is going to be a huge asset.”
Maynard said the lighting project will cost an estimated $800,000. Maynard said since the department was able to find funding, the project should begin this summer.
“Part of the funding come from a small grant and the rest of the funding was funded from the Putnam County Commission,” Maynard said. “We look to be on track as of right now and like I said I believe by the end of summer we should be in good shape.”
Maynard said currently the department is currently in contact with a lighting company to do some light research before bidding out the project. Maynard said the department is shooting to begin the project in the summertime so soccer season would not be affected.
“That is generally a pretty unused time at the sports complex,” Maynard said. “Plus the weather permitting it is dried up so there is a whole lot less damage to the fields and the surrounding areas around. That’s why we are trying to shoot for that summer goal is just due to the complex being more vant at that point.”
Maynard said installing the new lights will be an extensive project due to the size of the current lights at the complex. Maynard said the county would recoup the money from switching to LED lights in about 18 years.
