Lee County officials have approved a field lighting upgrade at City of Palms Park, the former spring training facility that is now used for Florida SouthWestern State College athletics.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an expenditure of $535,000 to improve the field lighting at the facility. City of Palms Park originally opened for Boston Red Sox spring training in 1993, and was used by the team through the spring of 2011.
In recent years, the facility has been active as the home of Florida SouthWestern State College and other events. The university uses the complex for its baseball and softball teams, and its agreement to play at the venue is set to run through 2025.
The improved lighting, which will be paid for with tourism tax revenue, is viewed as a need by some officials. More from News-Press.com:
Planning Assistant County Manager Dave Harner said the project is needed.
“The lights are 25 years old, they have not been replaced since the building was first built,” he said.
Along with Florida SouthWestern events, City of Palms Park is used for various tournaments.