“They’re looking forward to it enormously”: Community centre thrilled by Grant Thorold Park PlayZone

The ‘PlayZone’ multi-use games area (MUGA) in Grant Thorold Park will give residents the chance to play a range of sports from basketball to football, with a pitch size of approximately 30 by 20 metres, in built goals, hoops and line marking. 

The emphasis is on ‘free to use’ community access, with an online booking system to ensure fairness and safety.  The PlayZone will also offer the opportunity for more formal sessions to be held, where groups can book for a small fee.

The site will be operated by the Shalom Youth Centre opposite. Canon John Ellis who founded the Youth Centre in 1972, is looking forward to seeing the PlayZone in use.

He said: “In the holidays it will be brilliant. Whilst the centre doesn’t open, the children will still be able to use the facility all the way through.”

He added: “The children are looking forward to it enormously. They’ve been moaning about it not being ready so there is great enthusiasm for it.

“In relation to the rest of the community, it opens up a facility in the park that was derelict for years and frankly unusable. Now, there is something for people to use and enjoy again.”

Also excited about the prospect of the PlayZone is Grimsby Town ladies striker Beth Wharton. “Keeping fit and healthy is vital for both physical and mental health.

“Activities like this are a great way of staying active in a team environment. It’s great to see the rise in local girls football too and the PlayZone will only further enhance that.”

The project will be funded with 75% of the total cost from the Football Foundation, with the remaining 25% from Safer Streets grant funding and NELC funding sources. 

Councillor Hayden Dawkins, portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage, and the Visitor Economy, said: “The Grant Thorold PlayZone is a fantastic refurb of an old play area, and we look forward to it being well used by the local community. 

“It provides people of all ages with a quality and modern facility, and the opportunity to take part in a whole range of activities, supporting people to be more active, more often.”

The money for the scheme has been awarded as a grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government via the Football Foundation.

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country. 

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities. 

“This grant award towards developing Grant Thorold PlayZone is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”