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Lightning Blitzes Football Team

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Wesley Chapel District Park opened in July to much fanfare, giving children in central Pasco County a place to play league sports.

Then Mother Nature intervened.

Last month, lightning struck the 143-acre facility, knocking out power to 30 lights.

The broken lights weren't an issue until it started getting dark earlier, said Jose Lozano, who coaches the Wesley Chapel Vipers, a Police Athletic League youth football team.

'My parents are like, 'My son's not playing football in the dark,'' he said.

The lighting situation has forced the team to make adjustments. They used to practice three nights a week, from 6 to 8 p.m. Now, they're practicing four nights a week, from to 6 to 7:30 p.m., a shift Lozano said puts a burden on children who have homework and other obligations on school nights.

Rick Buckman, Pasco County's parks and recreations director, said the county is working on getting the lights fixed. Most have been repaired, although two fields, a soccer pitch and the football field where the Vipers practice, are still dark.

The parts have been ordered, but repairs are slow-going because the parks department is without an electrician, he said.

Buckman could not say when the park again would be fully lit.

Other than the lighting issue, most kids have loved playing at the new complex, said Mark Gardiner, the Vipers' director.

'We're really enjoying it there,' Gardiner said.

The complex, located southwest of Boyette and Overpass roads, includes 10 fields for soccer or football, baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, picnic shelters and a playground. Plans also are in the works for an aquatic center and gymnasium, which would bring the park's total cost to an estimated $20.5 million to $21.5 million.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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