Mid Ulster District Council has unveiled upgraded sports facilities at Mid Ulster Sports Arena (MUSA) near Cookstown, Northern Ireland.
Following a £3.6m investment, the venue has been transformed into a multi-sports hub that includes an eight-lane athletics track, a new 3G synthetic pitch, ballwall, walking trail, floodlighting and fencing. The project has also seen associated ancillary works being undertaken.
Funding for the project came through Sport NI’s National Lottery funded Multi Facility Fund (£1.2m) and the Council’s Capital Investment Programme (£2.4m).
Sport NI’s Multi Facility Fund invests in high-quality multi-facility environments such as the one at MUSA to create more opportunities for community participation in sport and physical activity.
Designed by Mid Ulster-based McGurk Architects and delivered by SAPCA member, Tony Patterson Sportsgrounds, the project complements the arena’s existing high-quality facilities while providing modern, accessible infrastructure for athletics, football and wider community use.
The new facilities were officially opened by the Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Deirdre Varsani, and the Vice Chair of Sport NI, Stephen Reid, alongside invited guests, project partners and members of the local community.
Richard Archibald, Interim CEO, Sport NI said: “Sport NI is proud to have invested over £1.2 million of National Lottery funding in the new facilities at Mid Ulster Sports Arena. We are extremely grateful to National Lottery players, whose support has made this investment possible.
“These state-of-the-art facilities will have a lasting impact on the local community, creating more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part in sport and physical activity, improve their health and wellbeing, and strengthen connections through sport for many years to come.
“Throughout the development, Mid Ulster District Council worked closely with Sport NI, Disability Sport Northern Ireland and Mid Ulster Disability Forum to ensure the facilities were designed in accordance with the Inclusive Sports Facility Guidelines, creating an accessible environment for all users.