Parents met with surprise after weeks of illuminating Richmond soccer field left in dark by copper thieves

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) — For weeks, the head of an East Bay sports league has fought for her players to simply be able to see.

On November 12, copper thieves vandalized the stadium lights at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Richmond, the city’s only illuminated soccer field. The lights have been out at the park, causing problems for evening practices.

On Monday, it was a race against the clock for some parents and Richmond United Soccer Club volunteers. Community members have been hauling in generators and extension cords and setting up an extensive array of lights because the field is pitch black.

“People are breaking into our streetlights, taking out the copper, and we’re left to deal with the consequences,” said Samantha Torres. “It’s very frustrating.”

Torres is a parent, a teacher, and the co-director of the Richmond United Soccer Club.

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She says more than 200 people typically use the field on any given night.

Torres and other volunteers started bringing in their own lights to keep things going.

ABC7 News talked to Richmond City Councilwoman Doria Robinson about what’s being done about the problem.

“The city has been on it. They have folks working to repair the lights. They have part of it repaired already,” said Robinson.

Torres says the city gave no timeline for repairs.

“Basically, their answer is this is all a bureaucratic red tape issue,” she said.

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After ABC7 News talked to Councilwoman Robinson, and as we were interviewing Torres, the lights suddenly turned on.

ABC7 News Reporter Suzanne Phan called Councilwoman Robinson to follow up.

“Right after I talked to you, I talked with the City Manager to see where they were. I knew they were in the process of doing the repair,” Robinson said.

The councilwoman was surprised at the turn of events. So were parents like Gaby Conrique.

“There was no light. And suddenly, lights came on,” said Conrique. “Now we’re happy and can train.”

Councilwoman Robinson says more than $20,000 in repairs are being made. Those repairs aren’t done yet, but things are moving in the right direction.

“I hope the right people are listening because our kids really need them to listen and we need them to act,” said Torres.