Work started this week to refurbish the current sports court in Grant Thorold Park.
The Grant Thorold ‘PlayZone’ multi-use games area (MUGA) will deliver the full refurbishment of the existing tarmacked sports area in the park, and will include basketball hoops, benches, goals, fencing and LED floodlighting.
The PlayZone Programme is aimed at tackling inequalities in physical activity and access to facilities. Its aim is to focus on funding community-led spaces, with an emphasis on refurbished safe and accessible mini pitches that will allow groups to be more active.
With a pitch size of approximately 30 by 20 metres, the PlayZone will have line marking for football and basketball games.
The emphasis is on ‘free to use’ community access, with a booking system to ensure fairness and safety. The PlayZone will also offer the opportunity for more formal sessions to be held, where groups can book for a small fee.
The current sports court will be taken out of use for the duration of the works. Site deliveries are expected in the first week, and ground works and construction thereafter. Heras fencing will be installed around the site while works are ongoing for safety reasons.
Additionally, in the early weeks, the large tree that currently overhangs the court will have the canopy lifted to allow room below for the new fencing and floodlights. Checks will be done before any works are done to the tree to make sure there are no nesting birds.
The planning application for this development was approved earlier this year.
Image credit: Google maps
