Central Park's new Community Sports Hub is complete.
Situated in the heart of the park on the site of the old bowling pavilion, the hub complements the current bowling greens as well as the refurbished sports plateau by adding changing rooms, accessible toilets and storage facilities; opening up the park to a wider range of outdoor sports.
Although mostly funded by the Council, the Community Sports Hub has been made possible thanks to a grant from the Premier League & the FA Facilities Fund, which is delivered by the Football Foundation.
The site will be used by Devon Junior and Minor Football League, Plymouth and West Devon League, Plymouth University football and rugby teams, Friends of Central Park, tennis coaching providers and the Central Park Bowling Association.
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet member for Street Scene and the Environment, said: "The Community Sports Hub is yet another jewel in the already decorated crown of Central Park and a further triumph of the improvements that we’ve made to the park over the past few years.
“Whilst modern, it is in keeping with its surroundings and will hopefully help to attract a broader demographic of residents to one of our most precious green spaces.”
Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy Leader, added: "These facilities are crucial for grassroots sport in the city and I’m delighted to see it open and ready for business!”
The new hub is an extension and improvement of the former bowling pavilion. Upgrades have been made to the toilets, dry changing rooms and the kitchen and heating installed so that a wider range of community and sports groups will be able to use the space all year round.
Additional wet-changing facilities, designed to Football Foundation specifications, have been built to complement the current dry changing rooms while two further rooms, for referees and the ambulant disabled, have also been built.
This will allow the hub to be used by football, rugby and cricket teams playing on the sports plateau, accommodate those using the bowls and tennis facilities adjacent to the hub as well as opening use of the building up to other community groups and organisations.
The new main entrance on the north-facing side of the building, meets a pathway where there is a small grassed public space, suitable for over-spill from events at the hub.
The new hub has been designed by Erect Architecture and LDA Design and built by South West Highways.
