Love Where You Live brings new pétanque facility to Ardsley Welfare Park

A new community pétanque terrain will transform an underused corner of Ardsley Welfare Park, creating a welcoming space for residents to be active, meet others and take pride in their local area. 

Work has now started to create the new sports facility as part of Barnsley Council’s Love Where You Live programme. 

The project will turn an overgrown area of the park into a safe, usable space for community activity, improving the look and feel of the green space and bringing new life to an area that is currently underused. 

Love Where You Live supports projects shaped by local people and delivered with community partners, focusing on practical improvements that help residents feel proud of their neighbourhoods and encourage people to get involved in their community.  

The facility has been developed through partnership working with the Stairfoot Ward Alliance, Stairfoot ward councillors and local groups, following interest from residents who were keen to see pétanque introduced at the park.  

Organisations including Ardsley Bowling Club, Friends of Ardsley Park and Yorkshire Pétanque will support the project and help ensure its long‑term success. 

Pétanque is a sociable and accessible sport that can be played standing or seated, making it suitable for people of different ages and abilities. It is a bowls-like game where players throw metal balls as close as possible to a small target ball, making it easy to learn and enjoy.  

Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “Pétanque is a brilliant sport because it’s friendly, inclusive and brings people together in a really simple way.  

“This new facility will create a great space for residents to get active, enjoy the outdoors and meet new people, whether they’re trying the game for the first time or joining a local club.  

“Keeping active supports our physical and mental health, and projects like this help reduce isolation by giving people regular opportunities to connect and feel part of their community.” 

Through Love Where You Live, Barnsley Council is bringing forward community enhancement projects in every Barnsley ward in consultation with local councillors and residents. 

A total of £3.5 million is being invested in local places, supporting everything from environmental improvements to grassroots ideas shaped by residents themselves.  

Love Where You Live is all about trying something new, making a difference and getting involved in your community. 

It’s about celebrating what’s great about where we live and building stronger, more connected communities. 

Find out how you can get involved and what’s on in your area at Love Where You Live