Leicester is set to benefit from nine new community multi-sports mini pitches, thanks to a £1.8 million funding boost from the Football Foundation.
The city council successfully secured a total of £1,858,066 through the national PlayZones Programme, which is supported by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government via Sport England.
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PlayZones are inclusive, accessible outdoor spaces designed to bring people together through recreational football and a range of other sports. The funding will go toward building four brand-new mini pitches and refurbishing five existing ball courts across the city.
The four new PlayZones will be located at Elston Fields (Saffron), Hamilton Park, Mowmacre, and Sharmon Crescent Play Park in Braunstone Frith. Refurbishments will take place at Atlas Close (Highfields), Armadale Drive (Netherhall), Cossington Recreation Ground (Belgrave), Eyres Monsell, and Spinney Hill Park.
All nine PlayZones will be available to book for free via the ClubSpark online system. They will feature secure gating and timed floodlighting to help manage access and ensure community safety.
Each site will also offer a programme of structured activities delivered by local community organisations and professional sports clubs, encouraging greater participation in sport and physical activity.
Assistant City Mayor for Health and Culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, said:
“This new funding from the Football Foundation will bring much-needed improvements to nine of our local communities. These areas have been chosen because of a shortage of quality sports facilities, which can often limit opportunities for people to be active. The new PlayZones will help break down that barrier, providing welcoming, safe spaces for recreational sport and community events.”
The PlayZones are being developed in collaboration with local residents, ensuring the designs reflect community needs.
The first to be completed, the Eyres Monsell PlayZone, is expected to open later this summer.
The Football Foundation’s PlayZones Programme aims to address participation inequalities and create exceptional community sports facilities nationwide.
