The thousands of SIUC students who play intramural sports and are tired of only getting a few hours of play time due to dwindling daylight hours could be playing at night with the help of a lighted playing field.

Bill McMinn, director of intramural-recreational sports, said plans for a lighted playing field are in their initial stages, but have been around for 25 years. He said increases in intramural sport participation over the years has made the plan more feasible.

McMinn said if approved, the lighted playing field would be a multi-purpose complex with three softball fields that also could be used for intramural soccer, flag football, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee.

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He said the playing field would allow for more flexibility in scheduling competitive games and could be used until 10 o’clock weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

McMinn said the estimated cost for a lighted playing field at SIUC is $424,000. He said students would pay an $11.20 student recreation fee increase for two semesters to pay for playing field if the plan is approved by the University’s top administrators and the SIU Board of Trustees.

McMinn said a lighted playing field would benefit the University and students in the long run.

We want to do it because we know the students are going to enjoy it, McMinn said. Three years ago we didn’t have roller hockey. We got the lights, and we now have over 200 participants.

Dave Erickson, chair of the office of intramural-recreation sport, said the lighted playing field would be located behind the SIU Arena and the tennis courts.

Erickson said the lighting would be one way to get more late night programming at the University.

McMinn said a lighted playing field would give intramural-recreation sports a chance to work with the Student Programming Council. He said it could be used for concerts and other activities.

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It’s a great opportunity to do collaborative programming, McMinn said.

McMinn said he also believes a lighted playing field would help students with their studies.

Research supports the fact that the more students are involved in intramural sports, the more likely they are to succeed in the classroom, he said.

Eric Bottom, Undergraduate Student Government senator for the College of Business and Administration, wrote a USG bill calling for a lighted playing field.

Bottoms said a lighted playing field would not only allow students to play sports longer, but would give them better quality fields to play on.

I think it’s an outstanding idea, Bottoms said. The cost is small for the long-term benefits that the students will receive.

Bottoms said the bill will be voted on at Wednesday’s USG meeting.

USG President Duane Sherman said he is not aware of any USG senatorial opposition regarding the lighted playing field.