About the Multi Use Games Area
The New Multi use Games area
(MUGA) at the Memorial Playing
Field
The Multi Use Games Area is the most recent of the ongoing improvements at the
Memorial Playing field. The MPF is an important asset within the parish both for
the excellent sporting and recreational facilities and for its beautiful open space
and views. The field provided the perfect setting for the Parish as it celebrated
the 2012 Diamond Jubilee. The Parish Council acquired the land for the memorial
field thanks the generosity of a local landowner after the Second World War. The
area is now leased by CSPC to Compton and Shawford Sports Club and regularly
used by the thriving football, cricket and tennis clubs. The sports club and the
Parish Council work closely together to provide facilities not only for members
but for the whole community. The MUGA is an example of a facility provided for
everyone to enjoy and is already open for use.
The new Multi Use Games Area
MUGAs are by definition ‘enclosed areas with a hard surface, for playing sports
such as five-a-side football or basketball’. They are fenced and have line markings
for several ball games, and are fitted with nets and goals. The idea of
constructing one at the MPF has been considered for some time, and became
possible through the use of Winchester City Council Open space funding.
Construction started in autumn 2013 and the project was completed in February.
The all-weather surface has been designed to drain quickly and easily even after
the recent heavy rain. It is hoped that the MUGA will be accessible and enjoyed
by everyone in the community. Extra paths leading up to and around the court
have been added, and viewing made easier by the provision of two benches and a
spectator rail. The area to the north and east of the court will be seeded with
grass and wild flowers to create a natural wildlife habitat.
Further improvements to the MPF include upgrading the cricket nets, making
them all-weather and vermin proof, and upgrading the memorial walkway through
the trees by planting bulbs and providing a map board similar to the one at the
foot of Shawford Down. We will be holding an open meeting in the near future to
discuss the provision of gym equipment on the field and a request for golf nets.
The MUGA has been developed in the spirit of the Olympic legacy and in that
spirit the Parish Council has invited representatives of our local Olympic
volunteers to officially open the court on Friday April 4th at 4pm. We will be joined
by Steve Brine MP, and welcome children and parents from the local schools. We
hope that as many people from the community as possible come along and enjoy
the opening, followed by tea and cakes in the pavilion. Finally, ‘the MUGA’ is not
an ideal name and a competition has been launched to re-name the pitch in time
for the official opening.
Myra Wilkinson
Parish Councillor
Reprinted from the March 2014 Parish Magazine