Coventry’s parks and open spaces are set to get a major boost, as six new Football Foundation PlayZones will help to transform neighbourhoods into vibrant hubs for sport and physical activity.
PlayZones are modern, safe and accessible spaces for club and community use that are designed to encourage year-round sport and physical activity.
Designs for six PlayZones have now been finalised, including a site at Willenhall Brookstray which will be developed as a new-build PlayZone, providing brand-new facilities for local residents where none currently exist.
Delivered by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Football Foundation and community partners, the spaces are expected to open later this year.
Proposed PlayZone locations and features:
- Edgwick Park – A new 2G football and cricket PlayZone featuring a new cricket wicket and an all-weather surface.
- Jardine Crescent– 2G multi-sport surface for football and netball with integrated goals.
- Longford Park – 3G all-weather football pitch with integrated goals and coded access for secure community use.
- Moat House – 3G football pitch offering a high-quality playing surface for local children and teams.
- Virginia Road – Refurbished tarmac multi-use PlayZone for football, basketball and netball.
- Willenhall Brookstray – 2G multi-sport surface for football and netball with integrated goals.
Each has been designed based on extensive engagement with local residents and over 70 local community partners to ensure the facilities reflect community needs and priorities. The proposals are now progressing subject to planning permission.
The work will revitalise five existing Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) across the city, transforming them into modern, high-quality spaces for community sport and activity.
Councillor Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “The Football Foundation PlayZones are a key part of our strategy to support grassroots sport, tackle physical activity inequality and increase participation in movement across the city.
“By working closely with the Football Foundation and community partners, we’re making sure the designs meet local needs and can be used for a range of activities – from football and netball to cricket and basketball.
"This is about building a lasting legacy for community sport in Coventry and giving every resident the chance to lead a more active, healthier lifestyle.”
Councillor Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities added: “These new PlayZones will breathe new life into our parks and community spaces, creating safe, welcoming areas that everyone can use and enjoy.
“We know how important local parks and green spaces are to residents – they’re the heart of many neighbourhoods.
“By investing in these upgrades, we’re not only improving sporting opportunities, but also making our community spaces more vibrant, better maintained and easier to access.”
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 isn’t the most effective. That’s why community engagement is at the heart of our PlayZones programme.
"As with all PlayZones, the new facilities in Coventry have been shaped by the local community so that they’ll be able to step out onto the pitch and get active in a way that suits them.
“Thanks to the funding we receive from our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – the Football Foundation will be delivering over 200 PlayZones like this one across the country."
Work on the sites at Edgwick Park and Longford Park is set to start later this month, whilst construction at Virginia Road, Moat House and Jardine Crescent will start later in the spring.
If planning permission is granted, work on the PlayZone at Willenhall Brookstray is set to start in the summer.