Work Progresses At Bradford Park Avenue

Tuesday, 12 April 2016 10:14

Work is progressing to transform Bradford Park Avenue's cricket ground into a state-of-the-art facility for the district.

The bid to restore the ground to its former glory is a partnership between Bradford Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Cricket is a sport that brings many communities together, but there is a big shortage of cricket grounds across the district, and Park Avenue was seen as a golden opportunity to revive the once popular cricket club venue and bring economical, social and health benefits to the district.

This is why Sport England and the ECB have chosen Bradford as one of five cities in which to engage more with local communities.

The site also has the potential to become a centre of excellence for female cricketers and people with disabilities keen to succeed in the sport.

Work has already been carried out installing an artificial pitch on the cricket field, and trees are being pruned around the seated stands.

Future work involves creating a further eight all weather practice pitches being built on the site.

A contract is currently being negotiated for the third phase of the work which will include a new community pavilion with high quality changing facilities and a catering facility to accommodate up to 250 diners.

The funding will come from Bradford Council's capital programme and from the ECB for this next stage.

Phil Barker, Bradford Council's Assistant Director for Sport and Culture, said: "We aim to create a first class cricket ground that will attract professional cricketers back to Bradford and benefit the local community. This ground has an incredible history which we want to celebrate and a tradition of great cricket which we want to restore."

Planning permission has been granted for the new all weather cricket pitches and the pavilion.

John Wright, Business Support Manager, at the English and Wales Cricket Club, said: "We are delighted that the first phase of the plans for the Park Avenue Cricket Ground has begun and for Sport England's support for this project.

"We're excited by the level of the demand for cricket in the local communities and we hope our investment into new non-turf pitches for the Park Avenue and four other green spaces will meet that demand and bring great benefits to the district."

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