Roswell is moving forward with a major bond-funded investment that will modernize athletic facilities citywide, reduce operating costs, and improve reliability for leagues, programs, and community users.
At its November 10, 2025 meeting, Roswell City Council approved a contract authorization for a citywide LED lighting conversion for athletic fields and racquet sport courts, an initiative identified as a priority in the voter-approved 2022 Parks Bond Program.
What the Project Includes
The project will replace aging metal halide lighting systems with high-efficiency LED fixtures at nearly all City athletic fields and racquet courts. In total, 699 new LED fixtures will be installed on 167 existing poles, significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance demands while improving lighting performance.
Hembree Park and the Grimes Bridge Soccer Fields are excluded from this project scope. Grimes Bridge already features LED lighting installed through a successful pilot program launched in 2021.
Proven Results from a Local Pilot
Roswell’s confidence in the LED conversion stems from the 2021 pilot installation at the Grimes Bridge Soccer Fields. Since installation, the City has recorded:
- Zero resident complaints
- Zero lighting maintenance costs
- Reduced staffing needs due to remote scheduling and monitoring
Those results, combined with extensive research conducted in 2023 and 2025 comparing industry leaders, led staff to recommend Musco Sports Lighting LLC as the best fit for Roswell’s systemwide needs.
Energy, Cost, and Operational Savings
The LED conversion delivers significant, measurable benefits:
- 54% reduction in energy use, lowering annual utility costs by approximately $36,000
- More than 25% reduction in part-time athletic staffing, saving over $42,000 annually
- Lower electrical load, extending the life of existing infrastructure such as wiring, breakers, and contactors
- Reduced maintenance costs, eliminating frequent bulb and ballast replacements required by metal halide systems
Over a 10-year period, the City anticipates:
- $361,000+ in energy savings
- $420,000+ in staff efficiency gains
- $550,000+ in avoided maintenance costs
- Total projected return on investment exceeding $1.3 million
Advanced Technology & Reliability
The new lighting system includes Musco’s Control-Link® technology, providing:
- Remote on/off scheduling
- Dimmer
- Automated monitoring
- Proactive outage detection
- 24/7/365 support
- A 15-year comprehensive warranty covering both materials and labor
In many cases, system alerts identify and schedule repairs before staff are even aware of an outage, minimizing disruptions to programming and play.
Funding & Timeline
The total project budget is $4,207,275, including contingency, with $3,658,500 authorized for construction and services. Funding is provided entirely through the 2022 Parks Bond Program, with no impact to the City’s General Fund. By bundling all lighting conversions into one citywide project, the City anticipates approximately $1 million in overall savings compared to park-by-park implementation.
Timeline at a Glance
- Committee Review: October 28, 2025
- Roswell City Council Authorization: November 10, 2025
- Contract signing: Estimated December 2025
- Construction begins: Estimated January 2026
- Project completion: Estimated August 2026