YMCA Newark and Sherwood has announced that the Community and Activity Village will be completed in spring 2021.
The completion date for Newark’s new £12.3m sports village has been confirmed.
YMCA Newark and Sherwood has announced that the Community and Activity Village, on Bowbridge Road, will be completed in spring 2021.
It will be the first new YMCA to open in the UK for 40 years.
“The Community and Activity Village is a space for everyone in Newark and Sherwood, and it’s important we go at a pace that keeps everyone moving together,” said YMCA’s chief operating officer, Craig Berens.
“We are listening closely and making sure the focus is always the community.
“YMCA is resolute in ensuring its services and facilities are a place where children, young people, families and individuals can belong, contribute and thrive.”
The YMCA’s two new 3G football pitches and athletics track have already become home to local sports clubs, including Newark Triathlon Club, Newark Town Ladies, and many junior football clubs.
The next phase of building work will see the main building constructed.
This will house facilities including an Olympic-standard climbing centre, education suites, and a dance hall.
Phase three will see the construction of the skatepark, cycle track, and multi-use game area.
The village’s climbing centre — for climbing, bouldering, and speed climbing —will be one of only three walls in the country that are built to official competition standards.
Alongside it will sit a smaller Clip ’n’ Climb facility, catering for younger climbers.
According to statistics, Newark and Sherwood ranks among some of the worst areas in the country for social deprivation and YMCA plans to make sports opportunities for health and youth development more accessible to tackle these issues.
Mr Berens said: “The village is about inclusion and opportunity for all ages and all abilities, and the Climbing Centre embodies that vision.
“You will be able to start as an absolute beginner — whether you are five or 50 — and keep training there up to Olympic standards.
‘YMCA is resolute in ensuring its services and facilities are a place where children, young people, families and individuals can belong, contribute and thrive.’
“We have been collaborating closely with the community in designing the village. Based on feedback, we are looking to extend the bouldering in our climbing centre and make some positive updates to the skatepark too.”
The Village will also be holding further education classes, a dance studio, a community café, digital learning suites and recording studio, dedicated art spaces, kayaking, a community training kitchen and more when it is up and running.
The 3G football pitches and the athletics track are available for bookings by the public. You can learn more about the project by visiting www.ymcanewarksherwood.org.
