Tooting: Pilot scheme successful as Fishponds Playing Fields remains open

By Tommy Joyce

10th Sep 2021 | Local News

Fishponds Playing Fields will be offering activities until at least the end of the year, it has been announced.

Following a successful pilot scheme over the summer, a programme of has been drawn up which will see the fields be open to the public until at least 2022.

The council had opened the fields from 10am-6pm through the summer months, offering a range of activities for either free or affordable prices. Resutlingy, an average of 350 adults and children visited the field each week.

While the fields will not be open for the same length of time, it will be open while there are activities taking place at the location. This will be from 9am-noon and from 3pm-5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On the weekends it will be open from 10am-4pm.

It won't be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The activities are being put on by Enable (the council's leisure and council contractor).

Activities on offer will include:

  • A female only fitness session will start off the week.
  • A weekly Zumba fitness session
  • A 'couch to 5k' running programme for absolute beginners and people wanting to get fit.
  • Active hour/weekly challenge – the chance to challenge friends and family at games and leisure activities.
  • Adult circuit sessions designed to improve all round fitness levels.
  • Park Rangers stay & play multi-sport sessions for the under 11s.

The site remains available for sports bookings for local schools and sports clubs for organised team sports, including cricket, football and rugby.

Wandsworth's environment spokesman Councillor Steffi Sutters said: "The attendance figures over the summer holidays show that the playing fields are a valued and popular space for families in this part of Tooting to exercise and use to keep fit and stay healthy.

"As a result we have worked out a schedule of ongoing regular activities throughout the week and at weekends that are being offered by Enable when the playing fields will be open.

"The calendar of events we've devised allows Fishponds to continue to fulfil its primary purpose as a playing fields for organised team sports while also supporting local families who wish to use the space for other health and well-being community activities."

On average Fishponds is used by local clubs and schools for more than 1,600 hours of sports activities every year - equivalent to more than 1,000 football matches. It has been officially designated as sports playing fields by national watchdog organisation Sport England.

For further details of the activities on offer and the timetable visit Enable's website.

Residents have been reminded that there are no dogs or picnics permitted on the fields and that everyone should clean up their own litter.

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