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Medway Park Sports Centre
Medway Park
Medway Park Sports Centre
Map
Interactive map of Medway Park Sports Centre
Former names
Black Lion Leisure Centre (1973-2010)
AddressMill Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1HF
Coordinates51°23′24.5″N 0°32′29.1″E / 51.390139°N 0.541417°E / 51.390139; 0.541417
OwnerMedway Council
OperatorMedway Sport
TypeSports and leisure complex
EventMulti-purpose sports venue
SurfaceVarious (indoor flooring, athletics track, swimming pool)
Public transit Gillingham Railway Station
Construction
Opened14 December 1973; 52 years ago (1973-12-14)
Renovated2010
Cost£11 million (2010 renovation)
Website
www.medway.gov.uk/medwaypark

Medway Park Sports Centre, is a sports facility located in Gillingham, Kent, England. It opened on 14 December 1973 as the Black Lion Leisure Centre. The centre has undergone several renovations, notably a £11 million expansion in 2010 prior to it being reopened as Medway Park Sports Centre on 28 July 2011. Medway Park is used for recreational sports and fitness activities and has hosted national and international sporting events including the 2011 European Modern Pentathlon Championships and the 2013 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.

History

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Black Lion Field aerial view
Aerial view of Black Lion Field in Gillingham, Kent, from the 1960s

The development of the centre dates back to 1955,[1] when it was first proposed by the three councils, including Gillingham Borough Council, that preceded Medway Council.[2][1] In 1963, the possibility of using Black Lion Field for the project was raised, and construction was completed a decade later.[1]

The Black Lion Leisure Centre officially opened on 14 December 1973 by Roger Bannister.[3] The centre initially featured a swimming pool which was used by 1,705 swimmers on it opening weekend.[1] In 1979, the centre expanded with the addition of a sports hall, squash courts, a snooker room, and a gym, officially opened by the Duke of Kent.[1]

The previous year, the Black Lion Skatepark had opened on part of the Black Lion Field to the north of the sports centre. The skatepark, which featured a half-pipe and several concrete bowls, was used for BMX and skateboarding until it was closed in 1987.[4][5]

During the 1980s, the centre hosted high-profile events, including the Norwich Union Grand Prix table tennis championship, the Butterfly Grand Prix,[6] the English Closed Table Tennis Championships, and performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Richard III.[1]

The 1990s saw further development with improvements to gym facilities and the addition activities like archery proved popular as by 1993/1994, the centre attracted 487,598 visits.[1]

In 2007, Medway Council announced a major redevelopment programme that included the construction of larger sports halls, a judo centre, new gym facilities and an Olympic-standard athletics track on an area of Black Lion Field to the west of the original leisure centre.[7][8][9][10] The expansion was completed in early 2010, and in April 2010 the centre hosted a stage of the Modern Pentathlon World Cup.[11] [12]

The facility was officially renamed Medway Park Sports Centre and opened on 28 July 2011 by HRH Princess Anne, who also unveiled a commemorative plaque at the venue. The ceremony took place on the opening day of the 2011 European Modern Pentathlon Championships which was being held at the venue.[13][14][15]

A stainless steel sculpture, Olympic Countdown Clock, beside the entrance to the sports centre[16]

In 2012, Medway Park became a training site for 13 Olympic and 8 Paralympic sports in the lead-up to the 2012 London Olympics.[13][17]

In March 2012, the Medway Dragons launched their wheelchair rugby league team at Medway Park.[18] Later that month, the venue hosted a 12-hour-long match between Medway Dragons and the London Broncos foundation setting a world record for the longest wheelchair rugby league match.[19] Medway Park was first used for international wheelchair rugby league in August 2012 when it hosted the inaugural Fassolette-Kielty Trophy match between England and France.[20][21] The following year Medway Park was the host venue for the 2013 World Cup, held as part of the 2013 Festival of World Cups.[22][23][24] In 2014, it was the venue for the Four Nations tournament,[25] and in 2015 it hosted the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy and the Wheelchair Rugby League European Championship.[26][27]

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Medway Park played a vital role in the local community, first becoming an emergency shopping hub and later serving as the largest local COVID Test Centre.[28]

In November 2021, Medway Park was the venue for a wheelchair rugby league two-test series between England and France.[29][30]

In 2022, the centre hosted the David Ward Hunt Cup International Trampoline Championship.[31] In 2023, it was the venue for the IFAA World Indoor Archery Championships[32][33][34][1] and in 2024 the centre hosted the International Dance Championship.[35]

In October 2024, Medway Council approved plans to reinvest a £1.5 million underspend from the construction of Cozenton Park Sports Centre into refurbishment works at Medway Park.[36]

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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Celebrating 50 years of Medway Park". Medway Council. 8 December 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Austin, Ben (19 April 2025). "Facts and figures behind Medway Council". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Bomb scares and missing Olympic torches: Medway Park in Gillingham celebrates 50 years". 18 March 2025. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  4. ↑ Patrick Quinn (Institute of Archaeology, University College London (27 December 2022). Solid Surf: An Assessment of the Heritage Value of late 1970s–early 1980s Concrete and Asphalt Skateboard Parks, and Strategies for their Protection and Conservation. The park opened as a private venture in August 1978
  5. ↑ Keevil, Steven. "The glory days of the Black Lion Skatepark". www.localauthority.news. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "Table tennis stars at Black Lion". Kent Online. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "£5m boosts Olympic sports project". 22 August 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Medway Council. Medway Park and Black Lion Leisure Centre Site Boundary Map (2009).
  9. ↑ "Lottery boost for Medway Park project". Kent Online. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Construction begins on Medway Park". www.leisuremanagement.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Medway set for £11m sports centre". 7 January 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Modern Pentathlon World Cup starts in Medway". Kent Online. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Princess Royal opens new Medway Park sports centre". BBC News. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  14. ↑ "James Myatt hoping to qualify for Modern Pentathlon World Cup at Medway Park". Kent Online. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  15. ↑ admin (10 September 2010). "Medway to host 2011 European modern pentathlon". Sports Journalists' Association. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  16. ↑ "Olympic Countdown Clock". Art UK. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "London 2012: Republic of Congo athletes train in Medway". BBC News. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  18. ↑ "Magic Night @ Medway Park". Medway Dragons. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  19. ↑ Gordon, James (29 March 2012). "Broncos help set wheelchair record". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  20. ↑ "France confirm favouritism for wheelchair World Cup". NRL.com. 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  21. ↑ Coyd, Martin (3 September 2012). "International Rugby League Came to Medway". Medway Dragons. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "FOWC 2013". Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "England's Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup win". Kent Online. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup draw is made". Rugby Football League. 23 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  25. ↑ "England claim Four Nations title". Rugby Football League. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  26. ↑ "England Wheelchair take Kielty/Fassolite Trophy". Rugby Football League. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  27. ↑ "England claim Euro wheelchair crown". Rugby Football League. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  28. ↑ "New Covid testing centre to open as two close". Kent Online. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  29. ↑ "Wheelchair rugby league rivals England and France meet at Medway Park, Gillingham". Kent Online. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  30. ↑ "Two Warriors to play for England Wheelchair". Wigan Warriors. 10 November 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  31. ↑ Cangaroos, Cambridge. "David Ward Hunt Competition 2022". Cambridge Cangaroos. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  32. ↑ "MRV Archers crowned as World Champions". ANI News. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  33. ↑ Reporter, LaoisToday (27 February 2023). "Success for Portlaoise College student at World Archery Competition". Laois Today. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  34. ↑ Haggis, James. "Medway Park is set to host another world sports contest". www.medway.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  35. ↑ "Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas drops into Kent sports centre". Kent Online. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  36. ↑ Boddy, Robert. "Medway: Leisure centre revamp savings of £1.5m may be used to improve others". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 May 2026. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
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