Sheffield gets more than £100,000 from England Athletics to create new running routes

More than £100,000 of grant funding will be used to create one of the country's biggest networks of running routes in Sheffield.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Mar 2016, 11:52 BST
Updated 2nd Apr 2016, 06:50 BST
Sheffield is to benefit from one of the largest installations of running routes in England thanks to a new city-wide partnership which has secured over £100,000 of funding from England Athletics.Sheffield is to benefit from one of the largest installations of running routes in England thanks to a new city-wide partnership which has secured over £100,000 of funding from England Athletics.
Sheffield is to benefit from one of the largest installations of running routes in England thanks to a new city-wide partnership which has secured over £100,000 of funding from England Athletics.

The money from England Athletics was secured by The Outdoor City partnership, which hopes to build more than 20 new routes across Sheffield by March 2017.

The first phase of the project will be completed in April, with 11 new runs ranging from 1km to 10km marked across seven locations.

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England Athletics chief executive Chris Jones said the project was the largest of its kind in England.

“The first eleven run routes have been carefully selected to appeal to all people; not just people who already run,” he said. “Essentially we want everyone to have access to well-signposted, well-designed running trails that they can use to run, walk and that are accessible to all.

“Our ambitions to grow participation in sport and support people to be more active are mirrored by the values of The Outdoor City, making Sheffield the ideal location for this nationally-significant project.”

The Outdoor City group hopes to tie the run routes project in with neighbouring communities by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to use, enjoy and take pride in the green open spaces on their doorsteps.

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Deputy leader of Sheffield Council Leigh Bramall said: “This is the first big outdoor recreation project we’ve announced since launching as The Outdoor City. It is evidence that this new way of working, of pooling resources and aligning ambitions so that they serve the whole of the city, really works.

“By being truly joined up we have the opportunity to engage with national bodies in relation to health and wellbeing, sport and outdoor pursuits. We are organised in our approach and clear about who we are and what we want for the city and we are being listened to.

“Having these run routes, innovating through advances in technology, connecting to the city’s physical activity strategy (Move More) and securing the ongoing support of England Athletics to help people ‘find their pace’ in Sheffield, are all big wins.

“And knowing that this is just the very start of The Outdoor City story – now that’s exciting.”

The new routes will be published online at www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk.