Latest news with #sportsfacility
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plan for Stevenage leisure centre to replace swimming pool
A swimming centre could be demolished and replaced with a new sports and leisure facility.A planning application has been submitted to Stevenage Borough Council, which owns the swimming centre site on the edge of the town plans include a 25m, 10-lane competition swimming pool with seating for 150 spectators, a teaching pool, a splash pad, and sauna and steam would have a six-court sports hall, a fitness suite, multi-purpose studios, a spin studio, soft play and a café. The proposed building is between three and four storeys high with the main entrance facing the Town Centre would be 53 parking spaces – a loss of 38 compared with the current provision – including accessible electric vehicle charging is expected to be open from 06:30 to 10:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 20:00 at weekends. If approved, the new facility would be built on the existing car park to the south of the swimming current facility would remain operational until the new one opened, as first reported by The Comet.A statement submitted with the planning application says: "The [1960s] building has been subject to incremental refurbishment over the years, but is no longer fit for purpose and is in need of replacement."Part of the funding would be from the government's Towns Fund, after Stevenage Development Board secured £37.5m towards the town's regeneration in 2021. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Old church building on Chicago's Northwest Side to be transformed into pickleball club
Old church on Chicago's Northwest Side to be turned into pickleball facility Old church on Chicago's Northwest Side to be turned into pickleball facility Old church on Chicago's Northwest Side to be turned into pickleball facility An old and deconsecrated church building in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood is undergoing a transformation. At the former St. Cornelius Church, at 5430 W. Foster Ave., rows of pews will soon be replaced with pickleball courts. The St. Cornelius Parish was established in 1925. The parish grew over the next few decades, and the current church building — which accommodated 750 worshipers — was built in 1964 and dedicated in 1965. By the 1980s, there were 2,500 member families in the parish. But in 2020, St. Cornelius Parish was merged with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish — and St. Cornelius Church closed. "It was definitely a neighborhood church, so a lot of people feel very strongly about this place," said Chris Petrick. The last time mass was held at St. Cornelius was in March 2020, around the beginning of the COVID-10 pandemic. Now, it will welcome a different kind of service — which will require a racket. Petrick bought the old Catholic church building from the Archdiocese of Chicago. "It actually had to go to Rome for approval," he said. While Petrick was raised Presbyterian, he is more of a devout pickleballer these days. "A lot of people can play it," he said. "It's still a fun game to play with a lot of different levels." Petrick was getting tired of waiting for court time, so he went looking to build his own court. The 40-foot ceilings of a church sanctuary answered his prayers. "We'll have one [court] go horizontally nearing the altar, and then the other goes more vertically back towards the baptismal," said Petrick. The creative project attracted architect Ed Torrez of Arda Design. "This one surprises people. I've told other clients," Torrez said. "I've told colleagues that we're repurposing a church into a pickleball court." The stained glass at the church building will stay in place, along with the midcentury modern chandeliers. The Church Club, as it will be called will have pickleball courts, locker rooms, rooms for darts and billiards, and even a commercial kitchen. "We have a lot of people looking forward to this," said Petrick. Petrick wants to cap membership to about 50 people, but he said there is room for community events too. "That's something we definitely have in the plans," he said. It is a new purpose for an old church building that Petrick believes has not lost its soul. "It still maintains that, and it's got a wonderful feel and a great vibe," Petrick said.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
First look at new national beach volleyball centre in Birmingham
Images have been released showing the first designs for a new national training centre for beach volleyball in of four courts, the all-weather sports facility will be built on the Moor Lane site at Birmingham City University (BCU). The university has described it as a "landmark" facility that they say will "transform beach volleyball performance in the UK".Designed to support England's elite beach volleyball programme, the university says the facility will be the first of its kind in Europe, enabling year-round training regardless of weather will begin once final planning is approved, with completion due this autumn. Purpose-built for elite performance, the centre reuses sand and infrastructure from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where England's Javier and Joaquin Bello clinched England chief executive, Charlie Ford, said: "We are delighted to be in a position where work is expected to start imminently after we have worked through some site complexities that have delayed the original timescale slightly."Seeing these images, and having met with staff from BCU who are equally excited about this project as we are, it really brings home what a seminal moment this is for beach volleyball in this country."In years gone by, it's been difficult to have a joined-up approach without a facility that can bring together our most talented players to train regularly, but that will soon now be a reality ... and we can't wait." BCU's sport development officer, Phil Llewellyn, said: "BCU is delighted to have partnered with Volleyball England on this unique project. We believe it provides a genuine legacy to the city, the West Midlands and the UK."We are as excited as Volleyball England to get the centre open and start engaging the athletes using our world class sports science support based at Alexander Stadium. We also want to give local people the chance to take part in completely new sport."I'd like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication on the project so far and we look forward to the centre opening ready for the new academic year."Backed by BCU, Sport England, Volleyball England, and the FIVB Empowerment Fund, the venue will allow UK athletes to train year-round. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
