Galway City Council in conjunction with Galway Sports Partnership under the Active Cities Project is delighted to launch eight BoxUp Units in Galway City.
This new and innovative free equipment sharing solution for parks and open spaces will provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to lead healthier lifestyles through increased access to free sport and leisure equipment.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Peter Keane stated, “The BoxUp initiative is a fantastic addition to the recreational areas of the city. It is great to see this project from Active Cities Galway and Galway City Council that is supporting the people of the city to enjoy physical activity. Having these in place for 8 areas across the city will make being active more accessible for all.”
Sport Ireland’s Active Cities project is funded through the Dormant Account Fund and is focused on getting those who are least active in our society active. In taking a multi-sectoral approach, the project is seeking to reduce the barriers to participation in physical activity, increase access and enhance the choice and opportunities available for all to take part in their local communities.
Introducing BoxUp to Ireland was a collaborative initiative developed across 5 cities as part of this project, and BoxUp lockers have already been successfully installed in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. With over 5,000 users and over 9,500 hours of recorded activity to date, not only can these lockers provide access to equipment, but they also provide invaluable data on the usage of the equipment in each local area.
Sport Ireland Director of Participation, Louise Burke commented, "Sport Ireland is delighted to see the launch of BoxUp in Galway today. The Active Cities project is funded through Dormant Accounts Funding, which aims to engage communities across the country by supporting those who are educationally, socially, or economically disadvantaged or those who have a disability to become more active. It is fantastic to see Galway Sports Partnership working with partners to ensure local communities have the best opportunity to be physically active in their area, making the most of the local amenities and the natural environment".
The BoxUp lockers, which are solar powered, contain a variety of equipment based on the facilities and amenities in that area, and all equipment can be easily accessed through the use of a free app.
Active Cities Galway Officer, Declan Burke explains, "You will just need to download the free BoxUp app on your smartphone, and create your account using photo ID. There are no credit card or bank details required. Just select on the app the equipment you want to use, and the locker will open. When you are finished your activity, simply place the equipment back in the locker and upload a picture to the app confirming you've returned it".
The Box Up Units were funded through the Community Recognition Fund, under the Dept. of Rural and Community Development through the Local Community Development Committee and supported by Galway City Council.
for further information on BoxUp in Galway City, please contact Declan Burke on 087 968 4296 or Jason Craughwell on 087 981 7549 or email CandC@GalwayCity.ie
Locations of Box Ups in Galway City:
- Doughiska
- Ballybane (Castlepark Pitch)
- O’Sullivan Park
- Renmore (Community Centre)
- South Park
- McGraths Field
- Salthill
- Westside