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Board approves scheduled lights at Richardson courts, pickleball group fundraising to add courts
Summary
After discussion with players and staff, Columbia County commissioners approved allowing lights at Richardson courts until 10 p.m. with a monthly scheduling process managed by county parks staff; local pickleball organizers are fundraising to convert a tennis court into four permanent pickleball courts.
Columbia County commissioners approved a parks department recommendation allowing court lights at Richardson Community Center to run until 10 p.m., with a monthly scheduling process to coordinate who gets lights and to limit late-night use.
Lance Stroudi, representing Lake City Pickleball, described earlier confusion about automatic light schedules and recommended fixed on-times. “Our our recommendation is during the spring and summer months to have the lights on from 07:30 to 10PM, and then in the winter months, from 05:30 to 10PM,” Stroudi told the board. Stroudi also asked that the lights be available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Clint (parks staff) told commissioners the county will implement a single schedule across county court facilities and that Musco lighting services may shift exact cut-on times slightly based on weather station triggers; the parks director said he can instruct the lighting contractor to turn lights on at set times if the board prefers.
Commissioners approved a motion—moved and seconded—to allow lights up to 10 p.m. during the year and to implement a monthly scheduling requirement that would allow teams or groups to reserve lights in advance; monthly schedules will be submitted to the parks office so groups can coordinate visitor teams and special events.
Separately, Stroudi said Lake City Pickleball and Richardson Community Center are pursuing a private fundraising effort to repurpose one tennis court into four permanent pickleball courts; he estimated the cost at $25,000–$30,000 and said the group had raised just under $20,000.
Board members noted potential operational consequences—costs, loitering and vandalism if lights burn late at night—and told staff to use discretion about cut-on times while enforcing a 10 p.m. cut-off. Parks staff said any field- or court-specific schedules would be applied across all county court facilities so users would have the same rules elsewhere.
Outcome: Motion to allow lights through 10 p.m. and to require monthly scheduling was approved; parks staff will implement scheduling and coordinate with organized groups on reservation rules and enforcement.
