Sports Facility Park Improvements Complete in time for Wimbledon and the World Cup!
WORK to improve sports facilities in two of Reading’s most popular parks is now complete, all in good time for the start of Wimbledon, the World Cup and the school holidays.
Sports pitches at Prospect Park in west Reading and the multi-use games area at Cintra Park in south Reading have both benefited from a combined investment of £128k in new pitch surfaces and fences. The pitches at Prospect Park, which also double up as tennis courts, originally opened in 2007 and the sports surface had reached the end of their life. They have benefited from a £70,000 upgrade. In South Reading, the multi-use games area at Cintra Park has benefited from a £58k refurbishment. The games area, which opened in July 2006, had also reached the end of its life. As well as a new surface, new perimeter fencing has been installed and the floodlighting inspected. At both sites, the refurbishment started in mid-May and completed earlier than anticipated. The work is part of a major £786k investment across Reading’s parks, approved by the Council’s Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee in March 2018. Starting this year and running to 2020, this investment programme will improve recreational areas across the borough. The majority of these schemes will be funded from contributions from developers secured via Section 106 agreements.Cllr Sarah Hacker, Reading’s Lead Member for Culture, Heritage and Recreation, said:
“Where we live, and the quality of our immediate environment has a huge impact on our quality of life and wellbeing. I’m delighted the improvements at Prospect and Cintra Parks are finished and ready for residents of all ages to enjoy. “This level of investment shows we are committed to keeping the town clean, safe, green and active. This work is part of a larger investment across Reading’s parks, running from now until 2020. I’m thrilled we are in a position to deliver such an extensive plan of improvements across Reading’s green spaces.”Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s Lead Member for Sport, said:
“As a Council we’re committed to delivering improved sport and leisure facilities in order to support Reading people doing more sport and exercise. Whilst this is tough due to the massive government cuts to our Council’s funding, I’m pleased to see these improvements delivered in these well used parks. We want residents of all ages to benefit from using our sports facilities, and I hope this will encourage many more to do so.”Ends
Notes
Photos of the courts available from Flickr https://flic.kr/s/aHsmhQX5EN Drone footage of Prospect Park copyright of Philip Slatter at S & C Slatter Ltd The full report on investments in Reading’s Parks can be viewed here: www.reading.gov.uk/article/10617/Housing-Neighbourhoods-and-Leisure-Committee-14-MAR-2018