MEDIA RELEASE City kicks off latest round of sports facility upgrades The City will spend more than R4 million on upgrades at four sports grounds as part of a city-wide redress programme. Read more below: The City of Cape Town’s Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department has initiated a number of projects aimed at upgrading sports facilities in several areas across the metropole to ensure greater access to quality recreational and sport facilities. This is the latest in a raft of projects undertaken by the department in recent years and just over R4 million has been budgeted for the work to be completed at the four facilities in question. On the list of improvements is the construction of a new spectator stand at the Lwandle sports complex in Strand. The complex was a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ legacy project and was initially handed over in 2011 with an artificial football turf, club-house and changing rooms. New softball facilities have been developed at the Bishop Lavis sports ground, and this facility is due to receive flood lights as well as a softball back stop in this financial year. Flood lights will also be provided at the J Nontulo sports field in New Crossroads, as well as a new spectator stand. The change rooms at the NY116 sports field in Gugulethu are scheduled to be upgraded. ‘Statistics have shown that participating in sport and recreational activities decreases the crime rate in communities. By investing in facilities like this across the metropole, we hope to help effect a social change – as part of our commitment to creating a caring and opportunity city that enables its residents. At the same time, these investments serve to encourage our communities to be more active and raise their fitness levels, which in turn impacts on their general wellbeing. Of course, wellness is a shared responsibility. The City can provide the facilities but it is up to residents to make use of them, and to care for them,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, Alderman Belinda Walker. In recent years, the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department has undertaken major repairs, upgrades and construction of facilities. This includes the construction of sports complexes in Masiphumelele, Wallacedene, Imizamo Yethu and Dunoon at a cost of R13,1 million; major repairs at the Malibu sports field in Blue Downs as well as the Bellville Stadium amounting to nearly R2,5 million; installation of 12 full-sized synthetic soccer pitches and nine five-a-side synthetic pitches totalling more than R60 million; and most recently, the construction of the Valhalla Park Recreation Centre. The centre is a first of its kind and cost R33 million to construct. It provides both sports and recreational facilities in one space, including a synthetic soccer pitch, a BMX track, outdoor gym, spray park, playground areas and outdoor reading rooms for community interaction with library activities. ‘The City is committed to providing quality, sustainable facilities for our communities to enjoy. We want people to take ownership of these facilities, because it is only through partnerships that we will be able to realise their value as tools of social cohesion and community upliftment,’ added Alderman Walker.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:00:12 +0000
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