New Multi-Sport Facility Opens at Hailey Park, Officially Launched by Jamie Roberts

A new community sport and games facility, designed with input from local children, has officially opened at Hailey Park, with former Wales and British & Irish Lions star Jamie Roberts on hand to launch it. Roberts is one of several sportspeople with connections to the local area whose names now feature at the site.

The facility replaces the park's former games area with a modern, inclusive space built for a wide range of activities, including football, rugby, hockey, cricket, basketball, volleyball, netball and calisthenics. It also includes a dedicated social "catch-up" area with seating and table tennis, offering something beyond organised sport for people simply looking to spend time there.

Funded through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund as part of Cardiff Council's Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme, the project was shaped by consultation with more than 180 local schoolchildren, whose ideas directly informed the final design.

Alongside Roberts, other notable local sportspeople celebrated at the facility include Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson, Real Madrid and Wales footballer Gareth Bale, Welsh rugby international Mike Rayer, Olympic and Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas, double world title-winning hurdler Colin Jackson, Great Britain rugby international Megan Jones, double Commonwealth gold medallist Dan Salmon, and Rugby 7s World Cup medallist Tom Isaacs.

Cllr Lee Bridgeman, Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said it was significant that children had played such a direct role in shaping the space. "What's particularly special is that local children played such a central role in shaping the design," he said. "Their ideas helped create a space that is inclusive, welcoming and offers opportunities for a wide range of sports and activities." He added that the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme reflects the council's broader ambitions for Cardiff, describing it as central to building "a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Cardiff" through improvements proposed by local ward members and shaped around residents' own priorities.

Cllr Jennifer Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, framed the project as a shift in what the park now offers. "This project has transformed what Hailey Park offers local families and young people, creating a safe, accessible space where people can be active, socialise and enjoy being outdoors," she said, calling it evidence of how involving local communities can help deliver facilities that genuinely meet their needs.