Island sports teams of all ages look set to benefit from a £114,000 revamp of the Queensgate astro-pitch in East Cowes when it reopens to the public today (Monday 24th April).
In a bid to keep the pitch onside, it now meets football’s world governing body FIFA standards.
The original pitch was a 15-year-old multi-use games surface which was well past its best.
The old surface was ripped up before work began to upgrade the outdoor space in Beatrice Avenue with an all-weather 3G pitch that can be enjoyed by all at the grass-roots level of the sport.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member responsible for leisure, described the new facility as a huge asset to the Island community and a game-changer for around 30 local teams who use it on a weekly basis.
She said:
“I am so pleased to see this popular facility has been completely transformed with a brand new 3G pitch that I’m sure will provide positive benefit to the health and well-being to many of our residents.
“We are all aware of the benefits of exercise both physically and mentally so we want to encourage as much participation as possible — this new facility will help us to achieve just that while also providing a fantastic incentive to encourage greater outdoor participation for all within the community.”
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The pitch is fully floodlit and can be used for 8-a-side football or split into 2 5-a-side pitches.
Funding for the project came partly from financial contributions from developers — so-called Section 106 contributions — for community facilities.
Great news, the Island needs more facilities like this