NEW SPORT play areas are set to come to parks and open spaces in Coventry.
Six new Football Foundation PlayZones will aim to transform neighbourhoods into vibrant hubs for sport, physical activity and community activity.
PlayZones are modern, safe and accessible spaces for club and community use, designed to encourage year-round sport and physical activity.
Designs for six PlayZones have now been finalised, including a a 2G multi-sport surface for football and netball with integrated goals at Willenhall Brookstray.
Other proposed PlayZones include a new 2G football and cricket PlayZone at Edgwick Park, a 2G multi-sport surface for football and netball with integrated goals at Jardine Crescent, and a 3G all-weather football pitch with integrated goals and coded access at Longford Park.
Plans are also being drawn up for a 3G football pitch at Moat House, and a refurbished tarmac multi-use PlayZone for football, basketball and netball at Virginia Road.
Each has been designed based on engagement with residents and over 70 local community partners.
Delivered by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Football Foundation and community partners, the proposals are now progressing subject to planning permission and are expected to open later this year.
The work will revitalise five existing Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) across the city, transforming them into modern, high-quality spaces for community sport and activity.
Coun Kamran Caan, the council’s 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.”
Coun Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said the new PlayZones would breathe new life into Coventry’s parks and community spaces.
He added: “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.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “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.”
Work on the sites at Edgwick Park and Longford Park is set to start later this month, while 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.
