New multi-use games area to be unveiled at Worthing’s West Park

A new sports area for netball, football and cricket practice has been created at West Park Recreation Ground in Worthing, thanks to funding allocated by Worthing Borough Council.

The Friends of West Park community group successfully bid for £15,000 from the Worthing Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Fund and was allocated nearly £21,000 from the council’s Section 106 developer contributions to build a new multi-use games area that will appeal to older children and teenagers.

Featuring new tarmac and fencing, as well as two new netball hoops, a repurposed junior football goal and cricket panel, the new area will give users somewhere to practice their skills in three sports throughout the year.

West Park’s basketball court was given an eye-catching makeover in 2023 and the group of volunteers that look after the park said it has soared in popularity since. The group hope that the additional games area will prove just as popular with budding netball players.

Work started in September and will be fully complete and ready to use by the end of November.

To mark the official opening of the new games area Worthing Netball Club will be hosting a netball training and skills session from 10am on Saturday 29th November that is open to all.

At the same time, the Worthing Thunder basketball team will be running a dynamic session on the adjacent court. With activities across both spaces, it promises to be a vibrant and exciting celebration for the whole community.

Maurice Pierce, from Friends of West Park, said: “Netball is a growing sport and we believe this is the only free-to-use netball practice court in Worthing, so we hope it will prove popular with young people taking up the sport.”

Cllr Vicki Wells, Worthing’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “These fantastic new facilities will provide an all-year-round space for young people to keep healthy and active. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the fantastic Friends of Worthing West Park for their consistent work to ensure the space thrives for the local community.”

(pic courtesy Friends of West Park)