Six new sports pitches planned for Coventry parks
Six new Football Foundation PlayZones are coming to Coventry, bringing modern, safe spaces for sport and play to local parks
Six new PlayZones are planned across Coventry as part of a scheme to upgrade sports facilities in several parks and open spaces.
The areas are designed as modern, all-weather spaces where local clubs and residents can take part in sport and physical activity throughout the year.
Plans include a new PlayZone at Willenhall Brookstray, which will provide a dedicated sports facility for local residents where none currently exists.
The project is being delivered by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Football Foundation. The sites are expected to open later this year, subject to planning permission.
Five existing Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) across the city will also be refurbished as part of the scheme.
Proposed locations include Edgwick Park, Jardine Crescent, Longford Park, Moat House, Virginia Road and Willenhall Brookstray. The facilities will feature a mix of 2G and 3G all-weather surfaces for sports such as football, cricket, netball and basketball.
According to the council, the designs were shaped following consultation with local residents and more than 70 community organisations.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “The Football Foundation PlayZones are a key part of our strategy to support grassroots sport, tackle physical activity inequality and increase participation in movement across the city.
“By working closely with the Football Foundation and community partners, we’re making sure the designs meet local needs and can be used for a range of activities – from football and netball to cricket and basketball.
"This is about building a lasting legacy for community sport in Coventry and giving every resident the chance to lead a more active, healthier lifestyle.”
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities added: “These new PlayZones will breathe new life into our parks and community spaces, creating safe, welcoming areas that everyone can use and enjoy.
“We know how important local parks and green spaces are to residents – they’re the heart of many neighbourhoods.
“By investing in these upgrades, we’re not only improving sporting opportunities, but also making our community spaces more vibrant, better maintained and easier to access.”
Work on the sites at Edgwick Park and Longford Park is set to start later this month, whilst construction at Virginia Road, Moat House and Jardine Crescent will start later in the spring.
If planning permission is granted, work on the PlayZone at Willenhall Brookstray is set to start in the summer.
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “When it comes to tackling the greatest inequalities to becoming active, the Football Foundation knows a ‘one-size fits all’ approach isn’t the most effective.
"That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our PlayZones programme. As with all PlayZones, the new facilities in Coventry have been shaped by the local community so that they’ll be able to step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them.
“Thanks to the funding we receive from our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – the Football Foundation will be delivering over 200 PlayZones like this one across the country."