New mini-pitches at Princes Park will create opportunities for thousands of Dartford’s youngsters
Dartford Council Leader Jeremy Kite has unveiled proposals to create new mini-pitches at Princes Park designed to meet a growing demand from the town’s youngsters. The new facility will complement Princes Park’s full sized community pitch which is 90% booked at peak times.
Specialist mini-pitches enable coaches to concentrate on the development of the very youngest players and help to build character, fitness and co-ordination at a hugely important stage in young lives.
Council Leader Jeremy Kite said:
“The community pitch at Princes Park is a tremendous success and is helping to divert thousands of young people away from boredom and mischief. There is tremendous peer pressure among the young to get involved in the activities there and I have absolutely no doubt, and nor do the police, that it is helping to cut crime, reduce disaffection and build healthier, decent people.”
“Now, we want to meet the massive demand for traditional sporting facilities among the youngest of our kids. They can’t really cope with the full sized pitch which tends to be fully booked in any event. Mini pitches enable children from the age of five to engage with competitive sport at an appropriate level. It’s not as safe as it used to be to kick a tin can around the streets like I did as a kid and it’s a tragedy that young people are being driven back to the TV and playstation instead. The mini-pitches will tackle that pretty appalling situation head on.”
The Council is to seek partnership funding from the Football Foundation and other sources to develop the pitches, which will be located on the Princes Park site close to the Leigh Academy to minimise disturbance to local residents.
