Nottingham Forest in the Community get green light to revamp Forest Rec basketball court
Indicative PlayZone Paint Arrangement for the updated space. Image credit: Sports Labs Ltd.
By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham Forest in the Community’s plans to revamp and extend the basketball court at the Forest Recreation Ground have been given the green light.
In January Sports Labs Ltd, applied to Nottingham City Council on behalf of the football club-linked organisation to update the site.
The plans were approved yesterday (March 27), meaning the existing basketball court will be upgraded to become a ‘PlayZone’.
There will also be new benches for spectators, goals created with fences and four basketball hoops for casual play.
This is part of the Football Foundation’s ‘PlayZone’ Programme – which aims to tackle inequalities in accessing sport by giving money to update community facilities.
This targets priority groups such as people from lower income backgrounds, women and girls, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions and people from ethnically diverse communities.
The size of the space will also be extended from 23.5 metres by 14 metres to 30 metres by 20 metres.
It is hoped the updated space will encourage and increase physical activity mainly through football, but also other sports.
According to Planning papers, the existing facilities have become “tired and unused” and note the surrounding neighbourhood does not have nearby access to sports facilities similar to the PlayZone, saying: “This facility will be made available to local clubs and community groups who would otherwise have nowhere to socialise and interact.”
The Football Foundation’s Local Football Facilities Plan has shown Nottingham as being more in need of sports facilities, with the city identified as needing nine artificial pitches, 58 natural grass pitches, seven changing spaces and six small-sided facilities.
Papers say: “This development would help towards providing a high quality small-sided facility and in addition to providing a space that is made available for community use.”
PlayZones are inclusive sports facilities that can be used all year round by the community, with new floodlights to be added to include winter use.
Evening and weekend use will be available for community groups and local clubs.
The opening hours for the court are between 9am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.
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