The mini football pitch in the Ravenstein district, behind the KAT, is once again in tip-top condition, thanks to a thorough renovation. Sport obviously remains important for Tervuren for local politicians, ahead of October town hall elections*.
Footie can once again be played smoothly on a brand new artificial grass surface. “In recent years, in addition to the sports clubs, we have also tried to pay more and more attention to non-affiliated athletes and of course that also includes having good infrastructure. I am therefore very satisfied that we have been able to implement this,” says sport alderman and Flemish Catholic CD&V‘s Jan Trappeniers.
“Freely accessible sports grounds are not only good for our physical well-being, but also for our mental well-being. They invite us to meet each other and exercise together,” says Groen+ youth councilor Sofie Lombaert.
The site is a regular meeting place for many young athletes and was in need of renovation. In addition to a brand new top layer, the goals and wooden walls also received a major makeover.
Mega-loan for hockey and €3mn for football
It is already the mission of the municipal council to invest in sports infrastructure. In March, football club KV Tervuren was finally able to hold the official opening of new facilities at Berg van Termunt. Master of ceremony at the opening was Flemish nationalist NV-A mayor and club fan Marc Charlier. Tervuren ultimately paid over €3 million due to Covid and other inflation drivers, Tervuren+ learned.
Town hall has not been so generous with other clubs, Moorsel and Vossem. But they’ve not been totally forgotten. Moorsel’s football field took place in 2020 and a renewed €500k field will come this summer in Vossem.
Other sports have had their share of luck too. In April, former Flemish nationalist NV-A mayor of Tervuren, now Flemish Brabant’s governor, Jan Spooren was proud to announce a grant of €54,809 from the province to cut Golf Park Tervuren‘s CO2 emissions by installing solar panels, electric mowing robots, more bicycle parking, sustainable water management. There were even some left overs for biodiversity, given the preponderance of frogs and toads in the area.
And last month Tervuren agreed a €2.8 million loan for Blue Lions Hockey, Tennis & Padel Club Tervuren. The interest rate was not announced by town grandees. But mayor Marc Charlier was very pleased that after more than three years all the necessary conditions have finally been met. “These investments will create an unprecedented range of hockey, tennis, paddle and pickleball facilities for the people of Tervuren on the beautiful Polygoon site,” says Marc.
*Disclaimer: the author of this article is both a supporter of Vossem football club and a member of the local branch of new European party Volt Tervuren.
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