If you've driven by the Mulberry Recreation Center at night recently, you may have noticed some bright lights shining on the pickleball and tennis courts.
Staff worked with a local electric contractor to take advantage of a Duke Energy incentive to replace all the lights around the playground, skate park, and tennis and pickleball courts at the center. The contractor installed more than 50 new, 300-watt LED area lights on about a dozen light poles.
The project cost $4,500, and the new lights use minimal amounts of electricity compared to the old fixtures. Without the incentive, the lights would have cost around $12,000.
"The contractor did a really great job, and we were able to save a lot of money using the Duke Energy program," Parks & Recreation Director Kenny Story said. "The lights are nice and bright, and they really illuminate the area. Residents won't have any problem playing pickleball or tennis or using the skate park in the evening."
The lights turn on automatically around 5:00 pm and shut off around 9:00 pm so as to not interfere with nearby residences. When the lights turn off, the park is officially closed.
Mulberry Recreation Center is located at 720 Mulberry Street SW in Lenoir. The center offers three lighted baseball/softball fields, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a game room and kitchen, a gymnasium, a playground with picnic shelters and tables, restrooms, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, a skate park, two tee-ball fields, and six lighted outdoor tennis courts.
The City recently installed four new, outdoor pickleball courts at Mulberry Recreation Center. Now, the courts are bright enough for play at night.
The picnic shelter and outdoor basketball courts are bright enough to use at night thanks to new LED lights.
The skate park at Mulberry Recreation lit up at night thanks to new LED lights.
The playground at Mulberry Recreation Center illuminated by the new, outdoor LED lights.