Generations of Sacramentans have known Southside Park as a place for recreational fishing, fun and games with family and friends, and social outings. The Department of Parks and Recreation has embarked on a host of impressive lighting and lakeside enhancements that will make Southside Park even more attractive to current and future generations.    "Southside Park has always been an inviting place to the many neighbors and visitors who have enjoyed its many charms through the years," said Councilmember Rob Fong. "The City's lighting and lakeside improvements to Southside Park are a huge part of our overall investment in Southside Park and will make an already great place even better." The

 Great to get that history!  Thanks so much (both for your efforts "back in the day" and for telling about it now).  Wrong about "now, no one probably asked", though.  We've picked up where you left off and have been pushing Parks & Rec on basketball court lights for the last few years.  Then, about a year ago, after the City successfully put together grants for the lakeshore improvement project, Councilmember Rob Fong's office came to us for feedback on the idea of adding decorative lakeside lighting to the project.  SPNA's members were very clear that those sounded fine, but not without putting in the long-needed bball lights as well.  Fong's office agreed and apparently found a way (ie

Back in 1999, when I first joined SPNA, Tony took me down to the b-ball courts and said something to me like "Look at that. All those guys playing in the shadows while no one's in the tennis courts. We gotta get lights on the courts!" I gathered signatures and Jimmy Yee said he supported it but there was no money. Then, a few years later, the tennis courts were repaved at great expense, but no lights were hooked up for the b-ball courts. Then, when I worked with the teens they said, "There's no lights on the courts," and we started again. More support but no money. Now, no one probably asked, but lights are going up. Crazy, beautiful stuff. Hurray for the lights!