Trinity Multi-Use Games Area
Work completed on new sports area
(Date of issue: Tuesday, 17 January 2012)
Work has been completed on a new £140,000 sports area and play
park at the Old Trinity Church/Trinity School site, Caldewgate.
This initiative was funded through Carlisle City Council, United
Utilities’ Community Fund, Carlisle & Eden CDRP, Riverside
Housing and Cumbria County Council’s Healthy Communities fund.
Now open, organised activities are now in place and delivered by
the City Council’s Well Being team. It gives youngsters and
families in the area something positive to take part in and
encourages them to stay fit and healthy. As well as being marked
out for football and basketball, the new MUGA can be used to
deliver other sports, such as tennis and rugby. The area will be
officially opened tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 January) at 11am.
Carlisle City Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment
and Housing, said:
“This joint partnership approach was an opportunity to improve
facilities and to address local people’s concerns. This is another
example of positive action taken with our partners to make the
residents of Carlisle feel safe and secure. Providing facilities
for our young people helps to prevent the boredom factor and
possible anti-social behaviour.”
Cumbria’s water company United Utilities donated £50,000 towards
the new sports area as a thank you to city residents following a
multi million pound flood alleviation scheme in Carlisle.
John Parr from United Utilities said: “We were working in
Carlisle’s streets for more than a year but the community was
hugely supportive. We’re thrilled to have been able to give
something back. This new games area will be a terrific community
resource. It will be suitable for all weathers, and will be used
for a host of sports, from football to basketball. I really hope
people enjoy using it.”
The MUGA has been welcomed by ward councillors in Castle ward.
Cllr Olwyn Luckley, Liberal Democrat Castle Ward Councillor, said:
“There’s has been a need, for some years, for more play and sports
opportunities for young people in our area. These new facilities in
the park are most welcome and I hope will be well enjoyed over the
coming years.”
Cllr Willie Whalen, Labour Castle Ward Councillor, said: “I am
delighted to see the new facilities as I was born in Caldewgate in
1946 and spent a great deal of my early years playing and being a
part of the Caldewgate community. I have many happy memories and it
is good to think that many children and young people will be able
to enjoy the new facilities that have been made available to them.
I am also sure that the past parishioners of Holy Trinity Church
would be very proud of what has been achieved in this
development.”
This is the City Council’s fifth Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in
the city. There are MUGAs at Dale End Road, Harraby; Melbourne
Road, Botcherby, Hammond’s Pond, Upperby and Beck Field, Raffles.
These areas are used regularly and have helped to reduce anti
social behaviour in those areas.
The construction work was project managed by Carlisle City
Council.