EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso City Council has voted to pause funding for several planned sports field lighting projects across the city, including one at Grandview Park.

City staff told council on Tuesday, Jan. 20, that the sports field lighting program had an estimated budget of about $3.4 million, which has already been used to upgrade lighting at other parks. With no funding remaining in that program, the council voted to deprogram or remove funding from the remaining projects still on the list.

City officials stressed that deprogramming does not mean the projects are permanently canceled. Instead, the projects would require a new funding source before they could move forward.

The vote was not unanimous.

City Representative for District 2 Josh Acevedo, who represents parts of Central and Northeast El Paso, voted against the measure after hearing concerns from constituents.

“I still feel a little weird supporting this just because of the feedback that I’ve been getting from constituents and them not having a chance,” Acevedo said. “I think they were kind of blindsided by this. Especially the people around Grandview that were expecting lights for all these years.”

Despite those concerns, the council approved the funding changes on a 6–1 vote, with Acevedo casting the only “no” vote.

Parks affected by the sports field lighting pause include:

Nations Tobin Ball Fields

Ralph T. Cloud (Yucca Park) Ball Fields

Modesto Gomez Ball Field #3

People who use city parks say lighting can play an important role, especially during evening hours.

In the same vote, council also deprogrammed funding for other city projects, including the Palisades Trailhead and additional planned improvements, citing budget limitations and project constraints.

City officials say the paused projects could still move forward in the future if council identifies a different way to pay for them.

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