Creative Conversion
In today’s market conditions, sport and leisure centres have to ensure that all of their facilities are best utilised and provide a financial return. The Downs Leisure Centre in Seaford, East Sussex, had an indoor bowls green that was significantly under-utilised, particularly during the summer months. Therefore, they approached Sport & Play to assist in conversion of the hall, in which it was housed, into an indoor play centre.
The new activity area is the first facility of its kind in the town of Seaford and provides the opportunity for local children to play in a safe and secure environment, whilst their parents take a well-earned rest! The new facility also allows the Downs Leisure Centre, part of the Wave Leisure Group, to tap into the lucrative children’s party market.
Working with the bowls area as something of a blank canvas, Sport & Play ensured that the design and equipment specified provides for a wide range of play options across a broad age range. Specific areas including those catering for babies, toddlers and even an indoor sports arena have all been designed, supplied and installed by Sport & Play.
A full list of the areas incorporated also include those for agility, a modular play facility, a Play City climbing frame and slides, an open padded activity area, and the previously mentioned baby area and power play area. The latter is a fully enclosed, netted arena that can be utilised for a variety of team sports including football, basketball etc.
The arena has been constructed using Sport & Play’s unique method of producing a framework with solid and netted panels. This ensures that the framework is comprehensively padded with no exposed fixings or ties. Also, the netting is securely wrapped around the frame and again no binding or securing elements, that may cause damage or be interfered with, are visible or easily accessible.
When not in use for team sports, the arena, which is accessed via two 90° protected entrances, can be utilised as a secure play area. Children inside can be easily supervised and contained. It can also be used for parties and other groups, separate from the main facility.
The ability to cater for children’s parties should provide a significant increase in income and utilisation of the centre. The existing catering facilities and other activity areas and elements of the building can also be brought into use for this application and to take advantage of this opportunity.
Sport & Play offer a comprehensive service for indoor play and adventure facilities. This includes not only specifying and supplying the equipment required but also a complete consultancy service including advice from an industry expert on how to establish, manage and maintain a new centre.
They can also, through their service and maintenance operation, provide ongoing safety audits and a repair and maintenance service for existing centres. Wave Leisure manage centres along the East Sussex coast from Seaford through to Peacehaven and taking in the county town of Lewes.
For further information about their facilities please see their website at: www.waveleisure.co.uk
For further details of Sport & Play’s complete service for indoor play, please visit their dedicated website pages at: www.sportplay.co.uk/indoor.
Alternatively, please call 0845 873 7712 or email info@sportplay.co.uk for their new indoor brochure