Today the first “Playzone” in Normanton Park was opened to the public.

It was funded by £180,000 from the Football Foundation, £25,000 from Derby City Council and £35,000 from Sporting Communities CIC .

Football Foundation is the charity of the Premier League, The FA and Government. It delivers outstanding grassroots sports facilities, which means better games and more players – helping transform communities where need is greatest and impact will be strongest.

Sporting Communities “.. are community and sport development specialists. We are committed to developing cost-effective, timely and professional services that benefit communities and inform future services.”

Previous Derby News article – Sporting Communities – Cook, Eat, Play in Chaddesden Park

Sporting Communities has been developing the Normanton Park facilities over the last 2.5 years including the community rooms; further plans are in place to reovate the nearby buildings for educational purposes

Following a consultation with 200 local residents the pitch will host football, cricket, netball, touch rugby, quick-stick hockey and dodgeball. Across these sports and activities, the facility is expected to be used by more than 1,500 people within five years of opening. A local primary school will also use the PlayZone for 10 hours a week as currently the school has no on-site PE facilities for its 600 students.

Derby City Council has already brought about a number of improvements to facilities in Derby with the help of grants from the Football Foundation. Since 2000, the organisation has issued 235 grants to Derby, with a total value of £5.2 million. The money has supported 532 individual teams and funded 3G pitches, grass pitches, goal posts and changing rooms.