A SOUTHAMPTON park is set to benefit from a £85k multi-use games area opening in spring this year.

The new free to use games area is being built in Hoglands park and will be a dedicated facility for people to play sport, all year round.

Include in the build will be a polymeric sports surface as well as basketball hoops, football goals and cage cricket markings.

The area which will cost £85,00 to build is set to open in Spring 2021 and is said to be suitable for both informal recreation and organised sport.

Cage Cricket has contributed £24,000 towards the project and Southampton City Council secured the remaining funding from contributions from developers in the area.

Community groups including West Itchen Community Trust and Awaaz Radio have also been involved with the project.

Councillor Steve Leggett, Cabinet Member for Green City and Place said: “As one of our most popular open spaces in the city, this new multi-use games area will be a great place for a kick-about, or to try something different like cage cricket.

"We’re making great progress on what will be a great addition to Hoglands Park, and I look forward to seeing the area revived for grass root games.”

Other recent improvements to Hoglands Parks include a new picnic area and a wildflower meadow, created to encourage wildlife and plans are also underway to create a concrete skate park to replace the existing facility.

New fencing on the South Front boundary and improvements to CCTV and lighting have also been implemented thanks to Safer Streets Funding provided by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire.