Playground MUGA at Nightingale Community Academy

Brief

The existing sports area required an upgrade to create a more modern and practical facility for pupils. The project involved preparing the existing area and installing a new artificial sports surface suitable for football and other playground sports.

The school wanted a hard-wearing, low-maintenance surface that could provide a consistent playing environment throughout the year, while making better use of the available outdoor space. The new MUGA needed to provide a safe and clearly defined area for pupils to develop their sporting skills, take part in PE lessons and enjoy recreational play.

Solution

The Playground Company transformed the existing area into a new artificial grass MUGA, combining a high-performance 4G sports surface with a bright blue Multi-Play artificial grass perimeter.

Approximately 700m² of artificial sports grass was installed, including around 528m² of 30mm pile-height 4G Ultimate Sports Grass, approximately 140m² of blue Multi-Play Sports Grass and white artificial grass used to create the football line markings. The sports grass is a low-maintenance, non-infill surface designed for year-round sports use.

A 10mm shockpad underlay was installed beneath the artificial grass to provide a softer and more consistent feel underfoot, helping to create a comfortable playing surface for pupils.

The MUGA was then enclosed with approximately 106 linear metres of 3m-high 868 Sports Rebound Mesh Fencing, including three single access gates. The sports fencing helps keep footballs and other sports equipment within the playing area while clearly defining the new facility.

Project Details

This school MUGA and artificial football pitch combines several of The Playground Company's popular sports products and surfaces:

4G Artificial Sports Grass

The main playing area features approximately 528m² of 30mm 4G Ultimate Sports Grass. This non-infill artificial grass provides a durable, low-maintenance surface suitable for regular school football and playground sports.

Spectator Zone

Approximately 140m² of blue Multi-Play Sports Grass was installed around the perimeter of the football pitch, creating a striking contrast with the green playing surface and giving spectators somewhere to stand and watch. Multi-Play artificial grass is suitable for a variety of playground sports and activities.

Bespoke Football Markings

White artificial grass was incorporated into the surface to create the football pitch markings, giving the MUGA a professional finish and clearly defining the playing area.

School Logo

The school's logo was incorporated into the centre of the pitch, creating a bespoke finishing touch and making the sports facility feel like a dedicated part of the school. Having a bespoke artificial grass centre circle adds a personal touch to the facility. 

Shockpad Underlay

A 10mm shockpad was installed beneath the artificial sports grass to create a softer, more consistent surface underfoot.

Sports Rebound Fencing

The new MUGA is surrounded by approximately 106 linear metres of 3m-high 868 Sports Rebound Mesh Fencing, incorporating three single access gates. The fencing provides a robust perimeter for the school football pitch and helps contain balls during games.

Result

Nightingale Community Academy now has a fantastic new artificial grass MUGA that provides pupils with a dedicated space for football, PE lessons and a wide range of playground sports.

The combination of green 4G artificial grass, a vibrant blue perimeter, professional football markings and the school's own logo creates a modern and engaging sports facility that makes excellent use of the school's outdoor space. The new school football pitch offers a durable, low-maintenance playing surface designed for regular use, giving pupils more opportunities to stay active, develop their sporting skills and enjoy outdoor play throughout the year.

The completed MUGA is a fantastic example of how an existing school sports area can be transformed into a high-quality, multi-purpose facility.