Lights planned for Galway tennis and basketball courts following ‘massive success’ of running track upgrade
Preliminary costs to install lighting on Westside’s tennis and basketball courts were discussed at Galway City Hall this week as upgrades on the running track proved to be a success.
At a Galway City Council meeting last week, Mayor Mike Cubbard received budgetary numbers for two projects which would see lighting installed at both courts in Westside.
The addition of lighting would be an extension of the works previously completed on the running track which Mayor Cubbard told the Irish Independent was a “massively successful project.”
“The running track now at Westside is used by people all over the city,” he said. “If you go down there any time of day there's different people using it, young and old, people with disabilities, people walking, people running, sports clubs.”
Residents have raised concerns about limited access to the courts after nightfall, particularly as evenings become shorter during the winter months. Given the popularity of the running track, Mayor Cubbard said the courts should now be prioritised.
Because ducting is already in place at the tennis courts, the project is estimated to cost about €40,000 and be completed before the end of the year. This can be delivered through the local area funding available, Mayor Cubbard said.
However, the basketball court will require resurfacing, as well as the installation of new lighting infrastructure, at an estimated cost of between €140,000 and €160,000.
This will require planning permission for design costs prior to any upgrades commencing.
“That is probably going to be more of a phased project where we can apply to Sports Capital. If we get success with Sports Capital when that's announced this year for a portion of that, then I think we go back to our own local budget to make sure we budget for that then in the early parts of next year,” he said.
Mayor Cubbard described the tennis court lighting as a “quick win”, adding that the plan is to have the tennis courts under lights by winter 2026, with the basketball courts following in winter 2027.