Work has started to give a park in Hove an upgraded play area thanks to an unusual recycling project.
The multi-use games area (MUGA) at Knoll Park is being replaced by one that had been installed in Moulsecoomb before work began there on a big housing scheme.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Work has started to transform Knoll Park’s MUGA using recycled surfacing and fencing previously installed at the Moulsecoomb Hub MUGA.
“The project is part of planned refurbishment and upgrade work and is expected to take around two weeks.
“Funded from the council’s revenue budget, the cost for the work is around £47,000 – a fraction of the cost of a new facility.
“This innovative approach was successfully used earlier this year when Hangleton Park’s MUGA was refurbished using materials from Moulsecoomb’s facility.
“(It) was removed to make way for a major new housing and hub development which includes new sports facilities.”
Labour councillor Alan Robins, the council’s cabinet member for sport, recreation and libraries, said: “Parks officers were aware that the Knoll Park MUGA playing surface had been deteriorating for some time and that it was reaching the end of its useful life.
“They had also noticed some of the steel fencing needed replacing so are repurposing some of the Moulsecoomb fencing panels for Knoll too.
“I’m delighted our sports development and parks teams spotted a further opportunity to work together to recycle good-as-new surfacing materials to provide a perfect and sustainable solution for Knoll Park.
“This refurbishment means a valued sports facility will be greatly improved, look like new and provide a cost-effective and long-lasting playing surface for local residents for many years to come.”
When the new surface has been laid, new lines are due to be painted for football and basketball.
