The City of Wolverhampton Council is working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to install 7 new wickets, with work on the first 6 - at East Park, Claregate Playing Fields, Fowlers Park, Newbridge Playing Fields, King George V Playing Fields and Goodyear's Park - taking place this week.
The wickets will be available for use in the next couple of weeks, while a seventh wicket, at Ward Street in Bilston, will be installed at a later date.
At the same time, the council and the ECB are developing a new sports facility at Peace Green, Dunstall Road, which will include 3 all weather cricket training nets and a basketball area. Initial works are underway, with the pitches due to be laid later this year.
The new cricket facilities will be free to use and will compliment a range of other free facilities around the City, including tennis courts and outdoor gyms, and the new £3 million sports development at Barnhurst Lane, Pendeford, which opened in 2015 and offers 9 football pitches and a multi use track. Meanwhile, work is also underway to improve the changing facilities at Newbridge Playing Fields and to create new changing rooms at Barnhurst Lane.
Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We are delighted to be working with the England and Wales Cricket Board to deliver a range of new cricket facilities in Wolverhampton which will further increase opportunities for local residents to get active.
"This is another big investment in sport in our City, and these high quality facilities will have a major role to play in improving the health and well-being of the people of Wolverhampton."
Cabinet Member for City Environment, Councillor Steve Evans, added: "We will regularly inspect these new facilities in our parks and green spaces to ensure they are maintained to the highest standards."
- released: Tuesday 26 June, 2018