LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $25,000 grant for lighting upgrades at Burton Park

Energy-efficient lighting will improve safety, reduce costs and enhance community recreation space

June 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award a $25,000 grant to Burton Friends and Neighbors to replace outdated lighting at Burton Park.
  • The upgrade to LED lighting will improve safety, reduce glare and maintenance needs, and lower energy costs while enhancing visibility for players and spectators.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Burton Friends and Neighbors for lighting upgrades at Burton Park. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Landry Fuchs, Fuchs Haus Construction project coordinator; Abigail and Caroline Blanding, daughters of Melissa Blanding; Kyle Merten, Bluebonnet community representative, Brenham area; Angie Fritsch, Burton Friends and Neighbors board member; Dustin Majewski, Washington County commissioner, Precinct 4; Robert Mikeska, Bluebonnet board secretary/treasurer and director, District 7; Nathan Kalkhake, City of Burton city council, Position 1; Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet board chairman and director, District 5; Stephen F. Cooper, LCRA Board chair; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Kendall Prenzler, BF&N board member; Darrell Kieke, BF&N board chair; Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA Board member; Terri Smith, BF&N board treasurer; Hannah Krebs, BF&N board secretary and daughters Lynette and Collins; Virginia Roberts, BF&N founder; Jane Hinze and Barbara Schoenemann, BF&N board members; Chasidy Nowicki, Bluebonnet intern; and Joy Fuchs, BF&N volunteer and grant writer.

BURTON, Texas – Burton Friends and Neighbors soon will upgrade lighting at Burton Park, a central recreational hub for the community, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with more than $98,000 in matching funds from Burton Friends and Neighbors, will help replace the park’s original lighting system with energy-efficient LED fixtures designed to improve visibility, reduce glare and enhance safety for athletes, coaches and spectators.

“The current lighting system at the park is more than 20 years old and was originally repurposed from a local junior college field,” said Darrell Kieke, chair of Burton Friends and Neighbors. “While it has served the community for years, the aging infrastructure has led to higher maintenance demands, reduced efficiency and visibility challenges during evening use. With improved lighting, we can better support the athletes, families and volunteers who rely on these fields, while also reducing long-term operational costs that are critical for keeping the park accessible and affordable.”

Burton Friends and Neighbors was formed by members of the community who saw the need for a dedicated recreational space in Burton. What began as a shared vision has grown into Burton Park, now a central location for youth sports, tournaments and community gatherings in partnership with the City of Burton.

“Burton Park has become a true gathering place for families across Burton and the surrounding area,” Kieke said. “Our organization is completely volunteer-based, and from the very beginning this has been a community effort.”

He said members donated the land and Blinn College helped install lights in the park’s early days.

“Today, our volunteers continue to staff the concessions and help maintain the park,” he said. “We are deeply appreciative of this grant, which supports a community initiative that is ultimately all about giving back to the kids.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

Contact Info

LCRA
Clara Tuma, Public Information Officer
512-578-3292
[email protected]

Bluebonnet
Will Holford
512-332-7955
[email protected]

After hours: 512-944-6719

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.

About Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 143,000 meters and owns and maintains 12,700 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and X/Twitter.