Goodyear votes to submit grant application for youth sports improvements

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

The Goodyear City Council will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, March 24, in Council Chambers at 1900 N. Civic Square to consider a resolution applying for funding through the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority’s biennial grant program.

If approved, the grant would help fund the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting at the ballfields in Goodyear Community Park.

The resolution would authorize the city manager to submit the grant application, execute related documents and approve necessary budget transfers if the funds are awarded. The Goodyear Parks and Recreation Department would cover the required match of up to $125,000 as part of its fiscal year 2026 budget.

The Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority’s Youth and Amateur Sports grant program has provided approximately $32 million in funding since 2000 to promote youth and amateur sports in Maricopa County.

If awarded, the authority would cover two-thirds of the total project cost, up to $250,000.

Goodyear Community Park, which draws more than 280,000 visitors annually, features three ballfields, two for adult leagues and one for Little League. Since the park opened in 2004, the fields have hosted hundreds of teams and thousands of players. City officials state that upgrading the lighting to LED technology would improve the experience for players while enhancing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

If Goodyear’s grant is approved, the city will enter into an agreement with the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to implement the lighting improvements.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for more information.