Christ Church New Malden School recently underwent a remarkable transformation of its outdoor play area, replacing a tired asphalt surface with Playrite’s high-quality Matchplay 2 artificial grass surface.
The project, completed in partnership with ETC Sports Surfaces Limited, has provided the school with a safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing multi-use games area (MUGA), ideal for a range of sports and general play. Working closely with parents and the wider community, the school is dedicated to fostering high achievement through a varied and engaging curriculum that nurtures essential skills and celebrates diversity. With the support of government funding, they seized the opportunity to enhance their sports provision, ensuring that students have fi t-for-purpose outdoor PE and recreational spaces.
Their long-term vision is to develop a sustainable programme that not only promotes active and healthy lifestyles among pupils but also provides valuable green space for the broader community.
However, before the renovation, the school’s outdoor area was far from ideal. The aging asphalt surface suffered from poor drainage, worn-out markings, and a hard, unforgiving texture that limited safe play.
Recognising the need for a safer, more adaptable surface, the school sought a durable solution for year-round sports and play. To address these challenges, ETC Sports Surfaces Limited prepared the ground to ensure a fully porous foundation, preventing waterlogging and improving long-term durability. The installation of Matchplay 2 delivered a high-performance sports surface suitable for a variety of activities.
Nick Drake, Sales & Project Manager at ETC Sports Surfaces Limited, emphasised the importance of providing safe, high-quality sports facilities for schools. “The transformation at Christ Church New Malden has created a durable, multi-purpose area that will support students’ physical activity for years to come. Playrite’s Matchplay 2 surface delivers excellent playability, comfort, and safety for young athletes.”
Now, the school enjoys a vibrant and functional MUGA that seamlessly integrates with its existing playground and equipment. The surface caters to multiple sports, including netball, football, and general play, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students, including wheelchair users. With minimal upkeep, Matchplay 2 ensures lasting durability and a consistently high-quality finish. Importantly, its porous nature prevents water accumulation, keeping the space usable even after heavy rainfall.
Chris Pickles, Sales Director at Playrite, highlighted the practical advantages of the new installation, stating: “Matchplay 2 provides a fantastic, long-lasting play surface that ensures both safety and performance, whilst delivering a low-maintenance solution for schools.”
The revamp of Christ Church New Malden School’s outdoor play area is a testament to the importance of investing in high-quality sports surfaces. By selecting Playrite’s Matchplay 2, the school has created a safe, inclusive, and versatile facility that will benefit students for years to come, supporting both structured PE lessons and free play opportunities.
In 2019, a school in Bukovany, a municipality in the Hodonín District of the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic, sought to upgrade its outdoor sports facilities with a durable and versatile surface. The objective was to create a multipurpose school playground that could accommodate various sports while also being accessible to the public. Playrite’s Matchplay 2 was selected as the ideal solution for the project due to its outstanding durability, low maintenance requirements, and suitability for multiple sporting activities.
The school needed a surface that could withstand high usage levels from students and community members while maintaining performance and safety standards. The goal was to provide a facility suitable for a variety of sports, including football, basketball, and tennis, while ensuring year-round usability with minimal upkeep. Additionally, the school wanted to create an inclusive space that would be accessible to both students and the wider community, offering a long-lasting, cost effective solution.
To meet these needs, the school opted for Playrite’s Matchplay 2, a versatile synthetic surface specifically designed for
multi-sport environments. With its durable needlepunch construction, the surface provides excellent playability across different sports, while the sand-dressed finish enhances grip and safety. One of its standout advantages is its low maintenance requirements, reducing long-term upkeep costs. Its weather-resistant properties also ensure consistent performance, regardless of seasonal conditions.
The installation was carried out by Precol, an experienced contractor specialising in artifi cial sports surfaces. The process was completed efficiently, minimising disruption to the school’s daily operations. Since its installation, the new surface has transformed the school’s outdoor play area, enabling students to engage in a wide range of sports while also providing a valuable recreational space for the local community.
A representative from the Precol commented: “We presented Playrite’s Matchplay 2 to the school as it is suitable for multi sports and relatively low maintenance. The surface has been a great addition to the community’s outdoor area, allowing everyone to enjoy various activities in a safe and high-quality environment.”
The project has demonstrated the benefits of investing in a multi-use surface, enhancing both school sports programs and community engagement.
With warmer days ahead, it’s the perfect time to get your sports and play surfaces in top shape for the new season. Whether you’re maintaining a tennis court, a playground, or a sports pitch, taking the necessary steps now will ensure peak performance throughout the season. Here are some essential tips for refreshing and maintaining your surfaces so they’re ready to shine when you need them most.
Armitage Park in Laurentides has recently undergone an exciting transformation. The park’s redevelopment, undertaken in collaboration with the landscape architecture firm KAP and Atmosphare, has introduced an innovative and inclusive recreational space designed to enhance play, accessibility, and outdoor experiences for the local community.
At the heart of the project is Playrite’s Matchwinner Velour, a premium playground surfacing option chosen for its durability, all-weather performance, and vibrant aesthetics. This high-quality, needlepunch synthetic surface is designed to offer superior comfort and longevity, making it ideal for school playgrounds, play areas, and multi-use sports surfaces. Unlike traditional grass or tarmac, Matchwinner Velour, when incorporated in an impact absorbency system, contributes to reducing the risk of injury and ensuring compliance with critical fall height requirements for playground safety surfacing. Beneath the carpet, 2-3 layers of shockpads (underlays) provide the necessary protection when a child falls, ensuring a safe and cushioned play environment.
One of the standout features of Matchwinner Velour is its low-maintenance design, which eliminates the need for regular watering, mowing, or reseeding. This makes it a cost-effective solution for schools and local authorities looking for a long-lasting, safe, and visually appealing playground surface. Its porous construction ensures efficient drainage, preventing waterlogging and enabling year-round play, regardless of weather conditions.
One of the most striking aspects of Armitage Park is its seamless integration with the natural landscape. The installation makes full use of the site’s existing contours, such as a slide built into a mound, blending play elements harmoniously with the environment. The synthetic surface not only enhances the park’s visual appeal with its vibrant colours but also ensures a safe and accessible play area for children of all abilities.
Despite its many benefits, the installation process presented several challenges. Adapting the surface to the park’s undulating terrain required careful planning and execution to maintain both functionality and aesthetics. The collaborative efforts of all stakeholders ensured the surface remained both practical and visually appealing while adhering to strict safety standards.
Beyond its immediate visual impact, the redevelopment of Armitage Park is expected to benefit the wider community by providing a safe, engaging outdoor space for families in the Laurentides region. The addition of an Inclusive Carousel, designed for individuals with reduced mobility, underscores the project’s commitment to accessibility, ensuring that every child can participate in play without barriers.
Since its completion, feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents praising the enhanced play experience and the ability to use the space throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.
Reflecting on the project, Chris Pickles, Sales Director for Playrite, highlighted how this initiative reinforces Playrite’s dedication to delivering high-performance, safe, and inclusive playground safety surfacing solutions.
Armitage Park now stands as a model for future developments, demonstrating how collaboration and innovative surfacing solutions can create dynamic recreational spaces that benefit local communities.
If you’re looking to enhance your school playgrounds or play areas with a high-quality, durable, and safe surface, get in touch with Playrite today to learn more about our innovative solutions!
When it comes to creating outdoor spaces that inspire activity and enjoyment, durability is key. At Playrite, we understand that a sports or play surface is a long-term investment, which is why we engineer our products to deliver exceptional performance and longevity. Let’s explore the features that make Playrite surfaces a cut above the rest and why they’re perfect for schools, sports facilities, and community projects.
From daily school activities to high-intensity sports matches, Playrite surfaces are designed to withstand a variety of uses. Whether it’s a football pitch, a tennis court, or a multi-use games area (MUGA), our surfaces are made to endure frequent use and harsh weather conditions without compromising on performance or safety.
We believe that the best surfaces start with the best materials. Our products are manufactured using high-grade fibres and backing systems that enhance durability and resilience. This ensures your pitch remains in excellent condition for years, even with heavy usage.
Maintaining a pitch can be time-consuming and costly, but not with Playrite. Our surfaces are designed to be low maintenance, meaning less time spent on upkeep and more time enjoying the game. With minimal effort, you can keep your surface looking and performing at its best.
Over the years, Playrite has worked with countless schools, sports clubs, and local authorities, delivering surfaces that stand the test of time. From primary school playgrounds to professional-level sports pitches, our track record speaks for itself.
A shining example of durability and design is our recent project at St Joseph’s School. We transformed their playground into a vibrant, multifunctional area that supports a variety of activities. The result? A safe, high-performing surface that continues to delight students and staff alike.
Investing in a Playrite surface means investing in quality, longevity, and satisfaction. Whether you’re upgrading an existing area or creating a new one, our surfaces are designed to provide years of enjoyment and reliable performance. Ready to transform your space?
Get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements and discover the Playrite difference.
