We’re upgrading the artificial turf to bring it up to the levels required for FIFA and World Rugby codes, making sure everyone can practice and play at their best.
This work starts in the first week of October and will take up to three months.
There is never a good time to take a park out of action, especially one so well used, so we’ve scheduled the works around seasonal games to minimise the impact for everyone who uses the grounds for sport and recreation.
While we’re excited about the end result, we are mindful of the disruption this will have on users’ sessions. We’ll do everything we can to ensure that summer programmes can continue to run, and we’ll keep people informed as the project progresses through regular updates on this page and in newsletters.
About the project
The initial work will consist of removing the existing synthetic surface, followed by work on the shock pads (and if necessary, a full replacement of the shock pads), the installation of the new surface and finally the infill necessary to complete a premier artificial turf surface.
The new turf will be a Liga Turf Cross 25018/18 with a Brockfill infill which has exceptionally high ratings for sustainability and is used in other parts of the country and world successfully. The material is made from a species of southern pine grown, harvested and replanted in continuous cycles.
Brockfill is specifically designed to improve traction and reduce heat over an artificial turf field.
FIFA and World Rugby grade testing is scheduled for late December before the park is available for use again by the end of January 2025.
The renewal of the turf is part of the Council’s Capital Renewal Programme and has a budget of $1.3M.