Parents and coaches urge Roswell to add lights at parks; city outlines funding and options

Roswell — During public comment on Feb. 12, youth coach Victor Silva told the city council that parks lack adequate lighting for youth sports in winter months, creating safety and access problems and prompting repeated police calls when teams move practices to lit tennis courts.

"By installing adequate lighting at all our parks, the city will promote health, deter crime, and support the youth," Silva said, explaining that teams have been forced to practice on tennis courts where nets can be damaged and police have been called three times during five practices.

Parks staff replied that funding lines and legislative appropriations have been used for field lighting in the past, and that the city has allocated $2,240,000 for electricity to serve youth soccer field projects and has bids under way. Staff also suggested short-term measures — use of lighted baseball outfields, negotiated access with leaseholders or temporary portable lighting — while permanent infrastructure work proceeds.

Other public speakers raised related neighborhood concerns, including playground fencing at schools and feral-cat control; councilors recommended residents raise school-site issues with the school board for capital outlay actions and asked code enforcement and parks staff to follow up on animal-control and lease-cost questions.

What happens next: Parks staff said they will provide updates to council on the bid schedule and the timeline for energizing new field lights and submitted a commitment to return with exact accounting of costs and schedule.