Glasgow’s Alexandra Park Gets Solar Lighting After Women’s Safety Fears 2026

Key Points

• Alexandra Park in Glasgow’s east end is set to receive new solar-powered lampposts along the main path linking entrances from Alexandra Parade and Provan Road.​
• The installation addresses safety concerns raised primarily by women about walking through the park during dark winter mornings and evenings.
• £150,000 has been approved from Glasgow City Council’s Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund at the Dennistoun Area Partnership meeting.
• Dennistoun councillors Anthony Carroll (Green) and Allan Casey (SNP) welcomed the decision and highlighted its benefits for park users and local residents.
• Residents, including those from Riddrie, contacted Councillor Carroll about safety issues in the dark park.
• Councillor Carroll participated in a site walk with council officials, Alexandra Park Food Forest, and Wildlife of Alexandra Park to select the optimal pathway for lights.
• The lighting will enhance safety for commuters using the park as a route to Alexandra Parade station, avoiding busy roads like Provan and Cumbernauld Roads.
• Coverage appears in multiple outlets including Glasgow Live, The Herald Scotland, The National, and STV News, all reporting on 18 February 2026.
• Councillors emphasise a “feminist lens” in urban planning and safer parks across Glasgow.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) February 20, 2026 – Alexandra Park in Glasgow’s Dennistoun area will soon feature solar-powered lighting along its primary pathway, following persistent safety worries voiced by women navigating the grounds amid dark winter hours. The £150,000 initiative, greenlit by the Dennistoun Area Partnership from council funds, has earned praise from local representatives keen to bolster security for early risers and evening strollers alike.

Why Was Lighting Needed in Alexandra Park?

Women and residents have long flagged apprehensions about traversing Alexandra Park in low light, particularly during Scotland’s protracted winter nights. As initially reported across outlets like Glasgow Live, locals raised alarms over night-time safety, prompting calls for improved illumination. People directly approached Councillor Anthony Carroll with these concerns, underscoring the park’s role as a vital yet vulnerable commuter link.

The park’s main path, connecting Alexandra Parade and Provan Road entrances, emerged as the focal point due to its heavy use by pedestrians avoiding congested thoroughfares. STV News detailed how this route serves not only park enthusiasts but also Riddrie inhabitants heading to Alexandra Parade station for work, blending nature with necessity. Ground.news aggregated reports from Glasgow Live, The Herald Scotland, and The National, all echoing that women specifically highlighted fears of walking alone in the gloom.

What Did Councillors Anthony Carroll and Allan Casey Say?

Dennistoun’s Green Councillor Anthony Carroll expressed strong approval of the funding decision. As reported by STV News, he stated:

“I’m delighted that Dennistoun Area Partnership agreed to my call for lighting in Alexandra Park. This will help improve safety for park users who use the park in the early morning and later in the evenings in particular.”

Councillor Carroll further elaborated on broader advantages, noting:

“This will benefit not just park users but residents in Riddrie too, who use the park as a key route to walk to Alexandra Parade station for work, avoiding the busy Provan and Cumbernauld roads and enjoying nature before and after their work with a safer route now.”

He credited community collaboration, mentioning a walk with council officials, Alexandra Park Food Forest, and Wildlife of Alexandra Park to pinpoint the ideal pathway.

SNP Councillor Allan Casey also hailed the approval. According to STV News, he remarked:

“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to approve £150,000 from the Council’s Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund to deliver new lighting in Alexandra Park.”

Casey added:

“This investment will make a real difference to safety in the park and help ensure it remains a welcoming space for everyone in our community. There will be meetings on site to agree the final designs, but it’s likely this will involve full lighting columns to provide the level of coverage needed from the Alexandra Parade entrance all along to the Provan Road entrance.”

Councillor Carroll reinforced a progressive stance, as per STV News:

“Green Councillors have been pressing for safer parks and a feminist lens added to our city’s planning approach across Glasgow – this is a prime example of doing so in the east end, and I look forward to working with the community and council officers to make this happen, now we have funding secured.”

How Was the £150,000 Funding Secured?

The funds stem from Glasgow City Council’s Neighbourhood Infrastructure Fund, allocated via the Dennistoun Area Partnership meeting. Coverage in Ground.news confirms the £150k figure for solar-powered lampposts, aligning reports from Glasgow Live and others. STV News specifies the SNP-led council’s role in this approval process.

Social media posts from the councillors themselves corroborate the timeline. Councillor Carroll posted on Facebook:

“Today’s Dennistoun Area Partnership voted to invest £150,000 for lighting for Alexandra Park! This will be from the main gate on Alexandra Parade all the way along the path to Provan Road entrance.”

Similarly, Councillor Casey’s Facebook update read:

“New Lighting for Alexandra Park Delighted that we approved £150,000 from the SNP Glasgow City Council Neighbourhood infrastructure fund to deliver new solar lighting in Alexandra Park.”

What Are the Technical Details of the Lighting?

Solar-powered lampposts will line the key path, promoting sustainability alongside safety. STV News reports that final designs await on-site meetings, potentially featuring full lighting columns for comprehensive coverage. Glasgow Live, as summarised on Ground.news, emphasises the solar aspect, costing precisely £150k.

The initiative targets the pathway’s entirety from Alexandra Parade to Provan Road, ensuring even illumination. This eco-friendly choice aligns with broader green efforts, though specifics on lamppost numbers or wattage remain pending community input.

Who Benefits from the New Lights?

Park users, especially women during peak risk hours, stand to gain most. Residents from Dennistoun and Riddrie will enjoy safer commutes to work and stations, dodging hazardous roads. Councillor Carroll highlighted benefits for early morning and late evening visitors, extending to nature lovers and daily walkers.

The project fosters inclusivity, with councillors advocating a “feminist lens” in planning. As The Herald Scotland noted in its coverage, this responds directly to women’s voiced fears. Broader community groups like Alexandra Park Food Forest and Wildlife of Alexandra Park contributed to site selection, ensuring resident buy-in.

Is This Part of a Larger Safety Push in Glasgow Parks?

This move echoes ongoing efforts to illuminate Glasgow’s green spaces. While not directly linked, prior reports like Clyde 1’s 2023 piece warned women might opt for longer routes to shun dark parks citywide. A 2025 Clyde 1 update on pilots in Kelvingrove, Cranhill, and Queen’s Park revealed persistent perceptions of unsafety despite ground lights.

Councillor Carroll positions Alexandra Park as a model for east end improvements under a feminist planning framework. STV News frames it within SNP council priorities for neighbourhood infrastructure. Coverage in The National reinforces the Scottish city-wide context of such upgrades.​

When Will the Lights Be Installed?

Timelines remain provisional, with site meetings slated to finalise designs. No exact installation date has been announced across sources, but funding security suggests prompt action post-consultation. The Dennistoun Area Partnership’s recent vote on 18 February 2026 indicates momentum.

Councillors anticipate swift community-officer collaboration, as per Carroll’s statements. Monitoring updates from Glasgow City Council will clarify progress.​

What Coverage Has the Story Received?

The story broke on 18 February 2026, featured prominently in Scottish media. Glasgow Live led with

“Glasgow park set for new lighting as women call for more safety measures,”

detailing the solar setup and costs.

The Herald Scotland published “Lighting for Glasgow park after concerns raised over night-time safety,” mirroring resident worries. The National reported “Scottish city park to have lighting installed after women raise concerns,” focusing on gender-specific fears.

STV News provided the most comprehensive account, including full councillor quotes and site walk details. Ground.news aggregated these, noting a left-leaning bias distribution (67% left). Councillors’ Facebook posts amplified the news locally.