Grand Opening of NEW Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium
Thursday 12th January 2023 saw the new Palmer Park Leisure centre and Stadium host its Grand opening with Gold Medal Paralympian, Graham Edmonds and Reading mayor, Rachel Eden giving the official approval.
Back in mid 2021, GLL extended its partnership with Reading borough council by taking on 3 additional centres alongside Rivermead. One of the three was Palmer Park Sports stadium; the centre soon closed its doors in April 2022 to make way for refurbishments as part of the £40 million invested across the partnership.
Palmer Park Leisure centre and stadium as its now called, includes a new 6 lane 25m community pool, café, soft play, gym, party rooms, group exercise studio and group cycle studio built on to its existing athletics track and velodrome. The centre is fully accessible and boasts a pool pod which can lower users into the pool.
The Grand opening invited those involved in the project including Reading borough council, GLL, sport England, Pellikaan construction and more. Invitation also extended to the community including Alfred Sutton School as well as Electric Eels a synchro club which is one of its kind for down syndrome people.
The attendees where lucky enough to witness an amazing performance from the team in the brand new swimming pool.
Graham Edmunds PLY, said: "Sport, exercise and activity are the key to both improving and maintaining good physical and mental health. After what the world has been through the last few years, it is paramount, now more than ever, for us to help ourselves take charge of looking after both of these. The new facility at Palmer Park is not only easy to access but so enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
"I was blown away by the whole facility. It is beautiful and functional for all levels of activity, exercise or sport depending on what you wish to do. The accessibility to all parts of the building as well as the different levels of activity or exercise really impressed me. I will always be biased wherever there is water because swimming for me is a life skill that can help you from cradle to grave as well as any hiccups on the way (as I found out).
"The pool here at Palmer Park has the ability to get wheelchair users in and out simply without fuss. The gym has so many different exercise stations that can be used for rehabilitation, coordination and high-level training/exercise.
"Having been in sports facilities all around the world, this one is up with the best I have seen for all-round capabilities. I would encourage everyone in the local area to make use of it because I can see this being the heart of the community for so many reasons."
The grand opening included a reveal of the new plaque, which is now displayed in the lobby of the centre. Meeting its commitment of opening prior to the end of 2022 the centre had a soft opening on the 19th December and since has seen amazing positive feedback which is clear with its memberships growing to 1500 within 2 months.