
CASE STUDY
Hillsborough Case Study
Hillsborough County Athletics, managed by the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department, oversees Florida’s largest sports field system. With over 250 high-quality Bermuda grass fields spread across a 1,200-square-mile area, managing this extensive infrastructure posed significant challenges. Many of these fields are equipped with advanced lighting for nighttime use, adding to the complexity. Manually controlling field lights on-site was labor-intensive and inefficient.
56% in Total Savings Across the Entire County Over $520,000 in Overall Annual Savings
The Challenge
In 2019, Hillsborough County faced significant challenges with their lighting systems. The lights were controlled by keys or switches located inside cabinets, which led to issues with unauthorized use by unapproved individuals.
Keys were often copied and shared, resulting in lights being left on for extended periods. This misuse caused numerous complaints and wasted resources. The county needed a solution for web-based control, independent user allocation, and management, including use tracking and remote scheduling at county-controlled rental sites.


The Solution
Hillsborough County evaluated several vendors for remote web-based light control solutions. Among them, Outdoorlink’s controllers demonstrated significant cost savings, reducing utilities by over $5,000 per month per park, making them a more cost-effective option compared to other vendors.
Consequently, Hillsborough County selected Outdoorlink to provide lighting control systems at all 65 sports complexes. Within four months, all systems were converted to Outdoorlink, with individual user accounts created for league representatives. The transition to Outdoorlink’s Smart Controller remote lighting control system significantly enhanced the county’s infrastructure management. By switching from manual control of the lights on-site to a remote system, Hillsborough County could efficiently manage their sports fields, resulting in substantial cost savings and improved efficiency.
“Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department has seen substantial savings since transitioning from a manual on-site lighting control process to Outdoorlink controls. The average annual savings across the 31 league-used sites is $325,000. This savings more than covers the cost of the equipment and support provided by Outdoorlink on an annual basis.”
James Crouch, Business Operations Ma
ager, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation
The Results
Implementing Outdoorlink’s lighting control systems transformed Hillsborough County’s sports lighting management. The key results included:

Substantial Cost Savings
The county achieved a significant average annual savings across their 44 individual sites, with 31 of those being league-used locations, more than covering the cost of the equipment and support provided by Outdoorlink.

Enhanced Control and Efficiency
The system allowed for remote, web-based usage, tracking of usage trends, remote scheduling, instant alert status notifications, and account security with individualized access control. This prevented lights from being left on unnecessarily and allowed the county to regain control of sports lighting.

Improved User Management
League representatives had individual user accounts to ensure responsible and efficient lighting system use. They manually started each session remotely, preventing unauthorized or unnecessary light use.

Environmental and Resource Benefits
The Outdoorlink Smart Controller lighting system prevented lights from staying on during rain or on unused fields after canceled practices, ensuring efficient and cost-effective use of one of the department's largest utilities.
“The Outdoorlink lighting management system has been a game-changer for Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation. Easy navigation, customizable scheduling, and access control features have greatly improved operational efficiency and saved money on electric costs. The ability to set curfews for the lights is also a significant advantage, helping to manage usage and reduce energy consumption during off-peak hours.
The system has been well-received by employees, league partners, and customers alike. ... Outdoorlink has provided tangible benefits and streamlined processes for Hillsborough County. Thank You.”
Roland Rodriguez, CYSA, Athletic Program Coordinator Hillsborough County, FL