Londoners Call for More Accessible Outdoor Sports Facilities
Residents and workers in the City of London are expressing concerns over the lack of outdoor spaces for sports and recreation, highlighting a growing need for accessible facilities in the local area.
Residents and workers in the City of London are expressing concerns over the lack of outdoor spaces for sports
SHARE:
In April of last year, the City of London Corporation unveiled its “new strategy for the Square Mile,” which outlines an ambitious plan to invest in and promote sports in the area in the next seven years.
However, many local residents and city workers claim that access to outdoor sports spaces remains limited.
Are local schools doing enough?
Luke Daniels, Barbican resident and acting chair of local swimming club, explained that access to swimming pools is especially difficult. “They’re expensive, and many are controlled by schools that may be reluctant to make them available,” Daniels said.
Similarly, Matthew Johns, a resident from Aldgate, told City News that his son often struggles to find a place to play sports, frequently heading to a pitch at the end of Brick Lane in neighbouring Tower Hamlets.
Johns says that this is a challenge as “there is no safe cycling route from our estate to the Golden Lane Leisure Centre in the Barbican”, a nearby affordable housing complex with a gym and leisure centre. He added that this is a worry during winter when it is dark earlier.
Lara James, another local resident, agrees that providing easy access to sports facilities is crucial, particularly for children. She suggests that schools could play a larger role in offering these opportunities. “Most children attend schools close to home or within reasonable travel distance, so the easiest and safest option is to make use of school sports facilities,” James said.
Yet, schools in The City are often limited in the outdoor spaces they can offer for sports, with many of them forced to hold clubs and events at parks and stadiums in neighbouring boroughs, such as Mile End Stadium in Tower Hamlets or Victoria park in Hackney.
Haggerston School in Hackney, which has a reasonably sized outdoor space, told City News that it rents out its sports facilities and allows parents to organize sports activities through platforms like Hire a Pitch and Schools 360.
A remedy for social disorder
While residential estates often feature small playgrounds for younger children, Johns says that “facilities for older teenagers are sorely lacking”.
The City of London Corporation lists various outdoor spaces for sports and recreation on its website, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and West Ham Park. However, these locations are not always easily accessible for workers and residents living in the City borough.
James points out that situating sports facilities within urban neighbourhoods can be challenging. “These spaces can sometimes become recruiting grounds for gangs and criminal activity,” she noted, raising concerns about the safety of children using public spaces for sports.
Sir Sadiq Khan launched the “Lets Move London” initiative in September of last year. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The “Let’s Move London” initiative aims to improve access to sports, increase physical activity, and promote better health and well-being across London.
The Mayor has expressed his commitment to overcome the links between inactivity and inequality, striving to make London a more active city for all residents.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan emphasized the importance of sport in fostering a sense of community, stating, “I believe sport can help Londoners live connected lives, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, faith, culture, age, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.”
Johns agrees that increasing access to sports spaces should remain a priority, especially for young people. He has actively worked to encourage nearby schools to share their sports facilities with the local community. “My son goes to school outside London in Essex, so it’s not practical for him to play sports there, with such a long commute,” Johns said.
He has reached out to several schools to explore possibilities for opening up their facilities, although he noted that many are hesitant. “London’s schools are often too risk-averse,” he added.
He pointed to a successful community program in Hackney, where local residents, supported by Arsenal Football Club, have helped inspire young people to stay away from gangs through sports.
City News reached out to the City of London Corporation for comment, but they declined to respond.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineLondoners Call for More Accessible Outdoor Sports Facilities
Short HeadlineCity of London residents lament lack of public spaces for sports
StandfirstResidents and workers in the City of London are expressing concerns over the lack of outdoor spaces for sports and recreation, highlighting a growing need for accessible facilities in the local area.
In April of last year, the City of London Corporation unveiled its “new strategy for the Square Mile,” which outlines an ambitious plan to invest in and promote sports in the area in the next seven years.
However, many local residents and city workers claim that access to outdoor sports spaces remains limited.
Are local schools doing enough?
Luke Daniels, Barbican resident and acting chair of local swimming club, explained that access to swimming pools is especially difficult. “They’re expensive, and many are controlled by schools that may be reluctant to make them available,” Daniels said.
Similarly, Matthew Johns, a resident from Aldgate, told City News that his son often struggles to find a place to play sports, frequently heading to a pitch at the end of Brick Lane in neighbouring Tower Hamlets.
Johns says that this is a challenge as “there is no safe cycling route from our estate to the Golden Lane Leisure Centre in the Barbican”, a nearby affordable housing complex with a gym and leisure centre. He added that this is a worry during winter when it is dark earlier.
Lara James, another local resident, agrees that providing easy access to sports facilities is crucial, particularly for children. She suggests that schools could play a larger role in offering these opportunities. “Most children attend schools close to home or within reasonable travel distance, so the easiest and safest option is to make use of school sports facilities,” James said.
Yet, schools in The City are often limited in the outdoor spaces they can offer for sports, with many of them forced to hold clubs and events at parks and stadiums in neighbouring boroughs, such as Mile End Stadium in Tower Hamlets or Victoria park in Hackney.
Haggerston School in Hackney, which has a reasonably sized outdoor space, told City News that it rents out its sports facilities and allows parents to organize sports activities through platforms like Hire a Pitch and Schools 360.
A remedy for social disorder
While residential estates often feature small playgrounds for younger children, Johns says that “facilities for older teenagers are sorely lacking”.
The City of London Corporation lists various outdoor spaces for sports and recreation on its website, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, and West Ham Park. However, these locations are not always easily accessible for workers and residents living in the City borough.
James points out that situating sports facilities within urban neighbourhoods can be challenging. “These spaces can sometimes become recruiting grounds for gangs and criminal activity,” she noted, raising concerns about the safety of children using public spaces for sports.
Sir Sadiq Khan launched the “Lets Move London” initiative in September of last year. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The “Let’s Move London” initiative aims to improve access to sports, increase physical activity, and promote better health and well-being across London.
The Mayor has expressed his commitment to overcome the links between inactivity and inequality, striving to make London a more active city for all residents.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan emphasized the importance of sport in fostering a sense of community, stating, “I believe sport can help Londoners live connected lives, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, faith, culture, age, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.”
Johns agrees that increasing access to sports spaces should remain a priority, especially for young people. He has actively worked to encourage nearby schools to share their sports facilities with the local community. “My son goes to school outside London in Essex, so it’s not practical for him to play sports there, with such a long commute,” Johns said.
He has reached out to several schools to explore possibilities for opening up their facilities, although he noted that many are hesitant. “London’s schools are often too risk-averse,” he added.
He pointed to a successful community program in Hackney, where local residents, supported by Arsenal Football Club, have helped inspire young people to stay away from gangs through sports.
City News reached out to the City of London Corporation for comment, but they declined to respond.
