From ball courts to Playzones: have your say on improving community ball game facilities

Do you use your local ball court? If not, why? The Royal Borough of Greenwich wants to help more residents get active by upgrading community ball courts across the borough.

Royal Greenwich is home to over 50 courts in parks, open spaces and on residential estates. These community areas can be used for ball sports such as football, basketball and netball.

With the help of funding from the Football Foundation, the Council could transform a number of these valuable community assets into high quality, accessible and inclusive ‘Playzones’ to help more local people get fit and stay active. 

If upgraded, these facilities will give residents access to a variety of new activities and help tackle inequalities in physical activity. We want to make these spaces free to access for as many people as possible.

The Council has identified the below five ball courts as most suitable for refurbishment:

• Abbey Wood Park
• Altash Gardens
• Briset Park
• Hawksmoor
• Kidbrooke Green Park

We’re also inviting residents to suggest other locations they think could be improved. 

Playzones are for everyone, so the Council wants to know what facilities you would like to be included. We want to hear your views on potential upgrades, as well as which ball courts should be considered for refurbishment and what other improvements you’d like to see. 

The Football Foundation’s Playzone funding has some requirements - to be eligible, the Council’s proposals for improvements must include:

• Lighting: installation of floodlights to enable year-round use and improve safety; the floodlights would be positioned to minimise the impact on neighbouring properties and operate on a timer
• Regular community sessions: some bookable sessions to allow regular community sessions to take place, giving local people access to coaching and organised sport
• Gated ball courts: gated access with a default PIN code for free time, and unique codes for booked sessions.

Have your say online at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/playzones by Friday 12 July. You can also bring the family to one of our fun, free events to learn more, speak to the team and have your say:

• Monday 24 June | Briset Park, 3pm to 5.30pm
• Tuesday 25 June | Coldharbour APC, 3.30pm to 5.30pm 
• Wednesday 26 June | Kidbrooke Green Park ball court, 3pm to 5.30pm
• Thursday 27 June | Abbey Wood Park ball court, 3pm to 5.30pm.