Multi-million Walsall leisure centres almost ready to open
[gallery] The opening of two new leisure centres in the borough are now just under a month away, with the keys for both facilities handed over to Walsall Council.
Both Oak Park and Bloxwich Active Living Centres are to open on Tuesday August 9.
As part of the build up to their openings, the keys to both leisure centres were handed over to the council on Tuesday.
The new multi million pound centres, which each include a 25 metre swimming pool, teaching pool, six court sports hall, dance studio and cafe, will be fitted out over the coming weeks with state of the art station fitness suites in time for their opening to the public.
Oak Park is also able to offer two glass backed squash courts, sauna and a steam room. The full size, floodlit artificial grass pitch at Oak Park will be replaced over the autumn.
Councillor Julie Fitzpatrick, Walsall Council's community, leisure and culture boss, said: "Opening these doors for the first time is very exciting.
"It is truly wonderful to be able to take possession of these buildings and brings us ever closer to realising the Council's commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by getting more people, more active, more often.
"Over the coming weeks the two centres will be a hive of activity and the excitement of everyone working to get these centres ready is positively brimming over.
"Our customers are about to be able to access some truly iconic and outstanding facilities that they can be really proud of. Over the coming days we look forward to being able to launch our activity programmes ready to open both centres on Tuesday 9 August."
Funded through the Council's £24.3 million Active Living Centres initiative, the project received a £2m grant from Sport England's facilities award scheme to support Walsall Council's aspiration to improve Walsall residents' overall health and well-being.
