FAREPlay Stepford Community Sports & Leisure Park, Glasgow

The new FAREPlay Stepford Community Sports & Leisure Park in Glasgow has opened to the public, following an extensive revamp of its facilities and outdoor sports pitches. SAPCA member, SportsLabs, carried out the design and consultancy role for the park’s new full size 3G pitch and five 5-a-side pitches. The work included the underlying dynamic layers, drainage, shock pads, artificial turf, fencing, floodlighting and a new car park. This was to ensure the facility had a sustainable future, meeting end user needs.

The work completed on the Stepford Community Facility has been a collaborative effort between a number of SAPCA members, including Sports Labs, Sportex and SIS.

FARE is a not-for-profit charity that looks to tackle poverty and anti-social behaviour in disadvantaged areas, with the Stepford project aiming to achieve this through the provision of diversionary activities.

FAREPlay Stepford is now home to two-full-sized pitches, converted from the two smaller, pre-existing grass pitches. This is in addition to new turfs and turf boards made of recycled materials, overall creating a FIFA quality pitch available to the community.

“Keeping a facility open like this in the West of Scotland weather is key to providing continuity for users and our designs, as well as our expertise of the construction elements,” SportsLabs said. “The performance of the playing surface has ensured that the facilities are reliably open and durable for high usage. This has been a community focused project that has been built to withstand the ever-changing dynamic Scottish weather.”

SportsLabs was recognised for its work on the FAREPlay Stepford Project by being named as a finalist in the Large Project of the Year category at this year’s SAPCA Awards.

CASE STUDY