Brussels municipalities to get more sport and play areas

Brussels municipalities will receive nearly €2 million in subsidies for the development or renovation of their sports areas after an agreement was reached within the government on Thursday. According to Bernard Clerfayt, the minister responsible for municipal sports infrastructure, the money will be used to construct 24 new sports spaces in the city.

In February, the Brussels region launched a call for projects for municipalities to create or modernise local municipal sports infrastructures. A total of 15 municipalities applied for grants for 28 different projects. Some 24 of them met the selection criteria: to increase the number of sports areas, to involve citizens and to be in an urban revitalisation area.

According to Clerfayt, seven of the popular "street workout" spaces will be created, including two in Evere and Anderlecht, one in Molenbeek, Watermael-Boitsfort and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. Schaerbeek will install a tree climbing course. New playgrounds have been announced for Molenbeek, Evere, Uccle and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

"The experience of Covid, and more particularly living through the shutdowns, has reminded us how much even occasional sporting activity contributes to our physical and mental development,” the minister said.

“Increasing the number of local sports facilities means allowing more Brussels residents to take part in sport freely, outside of sports clubs and organisations, which are often overwhelmed and quickly sold out. These 24 new sports areas therefore make it possible to improve the quality of life in the city. We all want a city that combines recreational, cultural and sporting activities."

In total, the region will pay €1,987,595 to finance these 24 sports spaces in the city. Work on some of these projects will begin this year, with others starting in early 2022.