A NEW and improved multi-use games area has been opened in Highfields, following investment by the city council.
The multi-use games area (MUGA) at Melbourne Street has been upgraded with new surfacing, fencing and equipment including new goal ends and access points, in a £140,000 project.
It is a caged facility with open access to the public and will feature both football and basketball courts. Previously the site was in a poor condition, with dilapidated fencing.
Now, Leicester City Football Club and the Leicester Riders both plan to organise community activities at the new Melbourne Street MUGA throughout the summer.
To celebrate the reopening of the facility, Leicester City legend Steve Walsh attended a launch event on 1 May. A day of free community activities took place, organised by Leicester City in the Community. This included skills sessions and friendly coaching from the Active Women programme, which has helped women from Somali and South Asian communities to get into football.
The reopening event was also attended by the city mayor, Peter Soulsby and ward councillors Mohammed Dawood and Hanif Aqbany, who have backed the project and helped bring it to fruition.
Assistant city mayor for sports and leisure, Cllr Vi Dempster, said: “We’re investing in multi-use games areas because we know how popular these facilities are and what a difference they can make to communities, particularly in areas of the city where open spaces may be more scarce.
“Multi-use games areas are a focal point for positive activities and an important space for socialising. They can be used in all weathers and for a variety of different sports and games – we even have confidence-building cycling sessions for women on the one in St Matthews. These facilities are practical, versatile and welcomed by local people, so we are very pleased to provide them.”
The Melbourne Street site is one of a number of MUGA ball courts the city council is working on, in a project worth a total of £2.1m. The council is investing in its MUGAS, ballcourts, and kickabout facilities over a three-year period, currently in the first year of the investment programme.
The new MUGA facilities have also been welcomed by Leicestershire police. Local beat officer Sergeant Jake Hogan said: “This will be a brilliant addition to the beat after the success of the large facility on St Matthews, with regular football sessions taking place there involving local young people and training from coaches. It will be great to see the Melbourne Street facility used in a similar way.”
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