Leisure Media Issue 3 2009 - Leisure Opportunities

international rugby player John Beattie.In 2003, the Scottish Executive produceda physical activity strategy entitled Let’smake Scotland more active. That sameyear, Edinburgh’s city council producedits own first attempt at “joined-up thinking”across the leisure sector. There mayEdinburgh’s RatRace (above)is one of theactive eventstaking placethis yearstill be 11 years to its 2020 target, but how has the council faredso far in translating its 30-page document into concrete action?The council’s head of sport and physical activity, Stephanie-Anne Harris, admits that the 2020 ambition “was a bit ofblue-sky thinking”. “We wanted a strategy that everybody – thepublic, sports clubs, the voluntary and health sectors – couldbuy into,” she says. While a lot of work has already been done atthe grass roots level in schools and leisure centres, 2009 seemsto be the year that projects long in the pipeline are now beinglaunched – and results are starting to become measurable.REBRANDINGOne successful project has been to rebrand the city’s annualsports calendar, changing the name from FutureSport toActivcity, and more than doubling the number of events thisyear to 82. Sports development officer Kathy Reynolds, whoworked on the project, says there was a conscious decisionto move away from the idea of “just sport”. “We wanted topromote the idea of physical activity and put on events that everybody,no matter what their fitness level, could get involved in.”This year’s calendar, running from April 2009 to February2010 naturally includes the big international crowd-pullers, suchas the Heineken Cup Final at Murrayfield – but each month isalso packed with events that invite participation. May saw theEdinburgh Nocturne, a night-time event for cyclists of all levels,and the MoonWalk Edinburgh – a charity walking event open toeveryone, also held overnight, took place in June.Activcity, which receives a dedicated budget of £117,000,is also the sponsor of Edinburgh’s first-ever Festival of Sport,running from 18-28 June with 70 different events covering 30sports. Again, the focus is on encouraging diversity and participation– such as free golf lessons, tai chi workshops, ‘come andSAUGHTON PARK SKATEPARKOConstruction willfinish in Decemberne of the main challengesidentified inEdinburgh council’sstrategy document was totackle the worrying levels ofinactivity among young people.Another challenge wasto reduce crime and vandalismthrough the promotion ofpositive lifestyles.A development which willcontribute to these aims isthe new £750,000 skateparkat Saughton Park, which willbe the biggest skatepark inScotland. Construction onthe 2,100sq m facility startsthis summer and is due to becompleted in December.The park, designed withhelp from local skater andBMX-er Dave Sowerby, willbe free to access, and willoffer beginner areas, intermediateramps and morechallenging features for competition-standardusers. Thedesign includes timed floodlighting,toilets and a cafe.Senior community developmentofficer at the council,John Travers, says: “There’shuge anticipation from theskating community aboutthe opening of this site. It willattract many youngsters whowouldn’t normally be interestedin traditional sports.”The development has hada chequered history, withtwo other sites in Edinburghbeing rejected by plannersover the past 10 years.Now that the site has finallyalmost arrived, Travers isexcited about its future.“I met someone involvedwith a skatepark inDumbarton, and the communityhas seen crime drop 33per cent. On weekend evenings,local youths have toapply for a ticket at the localpolice to enter the park. It’sbeen a great success.”ISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital 39