Three newly refurbished outdoor sports facilities have opened in Salford after £400,000 worth of funding from the Football Foundation.
The facilities, called Playzones, have opened in Ordsall Park, Patricroft Recreation Ground, and St Simon Street and are free for the public to use.
Free community sport and activity sessions are also being planned for the spaces.
A grant of £400,417.84 was awarded to fund the project after an agreement was struck between Salford City Council, Salford Community Leisure, and the Football Foundation, which aims to create safe, inclusive, and accessible Playzones.
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Equalities, Sport and Leisure, said: “Thanks to the Football Foundation, we are improving grassroots facilities in Salford, which have a significant impact on health and mental wellbeing, while also bringing people together and strengthening local communities.”
”A key priority is to create inclusive sports facilities that encourage greater participation among women and girls, disabled people, ethnically diverse communities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds”, she added.
The Football Foundation uses investment from the Premier League, The FA, and the Government through Sport England to aid in the opening of the Playzones nationwide.
The Playzones offer a welcoming space where residents of all ages can engage with sports. With football as the primary focus, the facilities also accommodate other sports, including basketball, netball, rugby, hockey, and walking football.
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 doesn’t work”
“That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our Playzones programme”, he added.
”As with all the Playzones, the new facilities in Salford have been shaped by the local community who’ll be able to step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them”, he said.
A free online booking system is set to be launched in the future to manage usage, including sports development activities and coaching sessions reservations.
For more information, visit the Football Foundation Playzones Programme website here.
