Big Lottery Fund helps bless St Mary’s with new court

Two successful shots at goal marked the opening of a brand new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Willesden last week. Installed by Wicksteed Playscapes using the innovative Polymeric surfacing this court is set to provide the area with a great deal of exercise and fun!

The floodlit MUGA features a football and basketball court, along with a practice cricket area.

Mayor of Brent, Cllr Harshadbhai B Patel and St Mary’s Willesden Vicar, David Clues, officially opened the new £150,000 court and then they landed a hoop each to the delight of the school children present.

The Mayor, Councillor Harshadbhai B Patel, takes aim as David Clues,vicar of St Mary’s Willesden and some of the children join in

Brent Council made a decision to build the new MUGA as part of a regeneration scheme to improve the Church End area. The idea for the new play area was also instigated by children at the school who were fed-up with finding burnt-out cars, bikes, syringes and general rubbish in their old one.

Big Lottery Fund is paying £100,000 towards the new facility which has been built above a disused part of Willesden Cemetery where most of the unmarked graves are over 100 years old.

Advising the attendant kids how important play is and that healthy minds meant healthy bodies, the Mayor cut the ribbon to officially open the new area. This was aptly followed by a blessing from St Mary’s Vicar, David Clues.
 
Eleven year-old pupil, Yasmin Clarke, said at the opening; “I think it’s exciting today. This play area is much, much better as the other one was like a cage. I want to do my running races in here.”

Head teacher of St Mary’s, Susan Lawrence, says; “We fought long and hard for a safe play area for our children and it’s great today to see the results.”    

                      

       Thumbs up for the new courts!                           Testing out the new surface!

This newly laid court will serve a dual purpose; the local people will be able to use the new games area outside school hours, while the school will use it for play time and PE classes.

Learn more about Wicksteed Leisure visit:   www.wicksteed.co.uk 

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