A.O. Shirley Lighting Contract Signed
A $409,837.67 contract has been awarded to No Limit Construction Services Ltd to install a lighting system at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds. The upgrade, signed on November 11, 2025, will bring the facility up to IAAF Class 2 standards, enabling international events and extended community use.
The Virgin Islands has taken a significant step toward upgrading its premier sporting venue after a contract valued at $409,837.67 was signed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for the installation of a new lighting system at the A.O. No Limit Construction Services Ltd was awarded the contract, which the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) says will bring the grounds in line with IAAF Class 2 lighting standards.
Meeting these standards is expected to allow the Territory to host international track and field events and provide modern, safer conditions for both training and community recreation. During the signing ceremony, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, praised the progress on what she described as a long-awaited project.
Shirley Recreation Grounds is the most active sporting and recreational facility in the Territory and said the upgraded lighting will have a broad positive impact on athletes, students and the wider community. The RDA emphasised that this project represents another milestone in the ongoing programme to strengthen the Virgin Islands’ sports infrastructure.
The agency reiterated its commitment to partnering with the Government of the Virgin Islands to improve community facilities and support youth development across the Territory. Local residents can expect a range of benefits from the upgrade: extended usable hours at the grounds, safer evening practice and recreational times, improved opportunities to host regional competitions that draw visitors and athletes, and enhanced visibility for events.
These improvements can also support local clubs and schools that rely on the grounds for training and competitions. The signing did not specify a completion date for the installation. Officials have said the work is part of broader infrastructure investment but have not published a project timeline or phased schedule as of the signing.
Further announcements on construction schedules, temporary closures and official reopening plans are expected from the RDA and the Ministry for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports. Shirley Recreation Grounds upgrade is part of a continued push to modernise public sporting facilities in the Virgin Islands, with officials stressing the links between quality infrastructure, youth engagement and potential economic activity tied to hosting higher-profile sporting events.
Primary source: VINO