Ward Eight Councilman Leon Tejada announced that the Ramon Matias Mella Softball League will open its 2010 season under the brand new lights at Bucklin Park on Thursday, May 6th. Tejada, who helped secure funds for the various improvements in the park, including $27,000 for the lights, will be attending the kick off event which is open to the public.

“The new lights at Bucklin Park will, for the first time, make it possible for our youth leagues to play and enjoy the park later into the evening,” said Tejada. “These lights will not only help softball and baseball leagues, they will help keep this park open for soccer in the fall and football in the winter.” 

The councilman emphasized that the lights are just one part of the City’s efforts at the park. “Over the course of the last year, the City has made many major improvements at Bucklin Park,” said Tejada. “In addition to the new lights, an irrigation system has been installed, the backboards at the basketball court have been replaced, and new pedestrian walkways were built.” 

Tomorrow’s event begins at 5 p.m. at Bucklin Park, 109 Bucklin Street, and marks the beginning of the Ramon Matias Mella Softball League’s eighth season serving the children of the West End, Elmwood, and Reservoir neighborhoods.