PlayZones FAQs

The majority of funding will come from the Football Foundation, who will provide 75% of the development and build costs. The programme requires partnership funding for the remaining 25%.  The funding required can come from various available sources, such as via external funding grants, S106 etc. 

Following the build, each PlayZone will have its own maintenance plan that will outline regular works needed to keep the standard of the playing surface, lights, and access system at top quality. The cost of this will be covered by the money gained from the hiring of the PlayZone. Any surplus income would then be used to support the maintenance of the existing MUGA in Ecclesfield Park. 

The Football Foundation have published insight into the findings that have influenced the development of the PlayZones programme. This can be found at; Insight | Football Foundation. 

PlayZones can be used for all types of sport and physical activity but the 'two-sport model' means that the facility will have the line markings, sports facility e.g. goals, and surface for two sports. This could be a mix between any of the following:

- Football 

- Netball 

- Hockey 

- Cricket

- Rugby

- Basketball

This doesn't mean that other sports can't be played in a PlayZone, it just means the facility will be designed with a focus on the two chosen sports. 

You can vote for your favourites in the Community Questionnaire at the bottom of the main page!

The PlayZone will operate on a Smart Access System, which can be used to access the facility. Similar to the tennis model seen in parks across the city, you will be able to book exclusive hire through an app / website that will provide a unique code which can be entered to unlock the gate. 

At times activated by community organisations, you will be able to book onto a session via the website/app/directly with the provider. 

Finally, at times of free access, we will be working with local partners to ensure the gate is open for community use. 

As this is a new model of Multi-Use Games area for Sheffield parks we will be monitoring how well the Smart Access system is used and how easy it is to use. We will be gathering feedback on the process from users so we can adapt the service.

This is a core requirement as set by the Football Foundation. This is based on their research and insight as found here: Insight | Football Foundation. 

The project focuses on four key target groups:

- Disabled people and those with long term health conditions 

- Women and girls 

- Ethnically diverse communities

- Lower socio-economic communities

The aim is to develop sites that help people in these groups to feel more comfortable, able and confident in accessing quality sports and activity facilities in their local area. The understanding is that many people who currently don't make full use of MUGAs need a different approach to how MUGAs are used to help increase engagement. A key change will be having coach or community led sessions and the option for private hire. We will be assessing the results from the first PlayZone to learn more!

This will depend on how you would like to use the PlayZone. 

Private hire of a PlayZone will be charged e.g. a local sports club hiring the site for a training session for their club. 

We will also be working with sporting and community organisations to put on community sports and activity sessions, the costs associated with these bookings will vary depending on the provider but we will be working closely with partners to monitor fees charged*. 

There will also be allocated free community use time so that everyone can access a PlayZone.

*Please complete the community questionnaire to let us know how much you would be willing to pay to hire the facility yourself and attend sessions on the PlayZone.

There will be income generated from the hiring of the facility. However, all income generated from the booking of a PlayZone will be utilised to cover maintenance costs, ongoing running costs (e.g. electricity for floodlighting) and eventual resurfacing of the PlayZone to ensure we have a high quality, sustainable outdoor sports facility to use for many years to come.

If there is any surplus income this will be used to support the maintenance of the existing MUGA currently on site. This could include surfacing cleaning, new nets, enhanced access etc. 

We will be able to share a proposed timetable of use following community consultation. 

However, as each PlayZone will have floodlighting we will need to obtain planning permission. We envisage the PlayZone being open and ready to use year round, between the hours of 8am and 9pm.  

As there are no PlayZones anywhere in the country yet, we aim to trial a ‘test and learn method’ the first phase of the programme, in which we plan on exploring developing PlayZones in two areas; a public green space (Ecclesfield Park) and one non authority managed site (Jubilee Sports Club). This will allow us to gather local insight and data to help influence our direction going forward. There are several reasons for choosing Ecclesfield Park as a potential PlayZones site:

1. There is a viable available space for a PlayZone next to the new tennis court development alongside an existing MUGA in the park. These two games areas offer different types of sport and activity space for the community. We hope that by enhancing both and by listening to the community along the way, we will learn what types of activity people enjoy and what the different models offer for the community. 

The Football Foundation aim to deliver 330 PlayZones nationally by 2025 by investing in priority communities with the greatest need, phased in over the next 3 years. In Sheffield, we aim to utilise the learning from the two initially proposed sites in the first phase to influence our direction and number of sites in future phases of the programme.  

Yes, planning permission must be secured.