Children help shape designs for park's sports and games facility

More than 180 local school children have helped shape the designs for a new sport and games facility in a North Cardiff park.

The new facility in Hailey Park forms part of a £2 million programme of Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes being delivered across Cardiff this financial year.

The designs for Hailey Park’s new sport and games facility

Designed to be as inclusive as possible, the new facility features a practice area for soccer, hockey, calisthenics, rugby, netball, and cricket.

A central section contains a half-court basketball area, volleyball markings and a space for soccer. A ‘catch-up’ area, with seating and a table-tennis table provides a separate space, away from other games.

Cardiff Council cabinet member, Jennifer Burke said: “I’m really excited to see these plans for Hailey Park become reality. After some well-documented issues, being able to ensure opportunities for play in the park are maintained and deliver a new facility that offers so much more than is currently available for local children to enjoy, is a really positive outcome.

A view of the ‘catch-up area’ planned for the new facility in Hailey Park

“Traditional games areas tend to primarily appeal to boys, so it’s fantastic that so many girls, as well as boys, shared their views with us, so that we could design a facility that will meet their needs as well, and is as safe and inclusive as possible.”

The council says the new facility will be between the children’s play area and the tennis courts, approximately 50 metres from residential homes "to balance the needs of all members of the community, and following assessment by independent acoustic engineers".

The existing multi-use games area will remain open until the new facility has been completed. It will then be removed and returned to grass.