Council and staff hear requests for more rec field time, lights and playground fencing; staff outlines constraints and plans

Britney Mims, a volunteer coach who runs youth travel softball teams drawn from Simpsonville rec players, told council she has repeatedly sought dedicated practice time and consistent lighting at Heritage Park and described the city’s “first come, first serve” field policy as a barrier to building a travel program. “We need just a little bit of help with that,” Mims said.

Robbie Davis, representing Parks and Recreation, said the department prioritizes municipal recreation program needs and follows a first-come, first-served practice for available fields. Davis said the department fields heavy scheduling demands, particularly during peak season, and that staff sometimes must limit rentals for safety and maintenance — for example, during peak field preparation times (spraying, seeding) or when overtime staffing would be required. Davis said he had…