Czech towns modernize playgrounds and raise sports facility fees

The city of Uherské Hradiště is renovating the Rybárny sports and children’s playground with a budget of nearly 2.5 million CZK. New surfaces of poured rubber will replace sand and asphalt, and additional equipment such as multi‑use courts, basketball hoops and volleyball posts will be installed. Work is scheduled to finish by the end of September, aiming to improve safety and durability.

In Havířov, the municipal sports‑facility operator has changed its fee structure, requiring children from nearby towns such as Těrlicko, Horní Suché, Albrechtice and Horní Bludovice to pay higher charges for use of venues like the winter stadium and sports hall. The new rates, effective until the end of 2025, increase entry and equipment rentals several‑fold, prompting criticism that the policy does not encourage youth sports participation.