1.7 million euros to create sports islands in the metropolis of Lyon

Sports island in Vénissieux. @Métropole de Lyon

While access to sports can be complicated, the Métropole de Lyon has decided, via a call for projects launched in September 2023, to create several sports islands throughout the territory. Ultimately, around ten blocks should see the light of day for a total investment of 1.7 million euros.

Up to 300,000 euros in grant

The subsidies granted by the Métropole de Lyon will be estimated between 50,000 and 300,000 euros, i.e. “a subsidy rate varying from 40 to 60% of eligible expenses retained”specifies the environmental community. Furthermore, eligible beneficiaries are the municipalities of the Lyon metropolitan area as well as the region's social landlords. “Each project owner applying for the construction of an island can only submit one financing request”however indicates the Métropole de Lyon.

These future sports islands will be designed around five main axes: promoting all sporting practices, planning to promote social diversity, better integrating girls into public spaces, putting mediation at the heart of the project and thus helping associations, and finally, offer spaces with “strong identities.” For example, the SPOT Ambroise Courtois sports island inaugurated on Thursday November 14 in Vénissieux benefited from a subsidy of 300,000 euros from the Métropole de Lyon, for a total budget of 708,000 euros. Supported by the landlord Lyon Métropole Habitat, the block offers 5,000 m2 of multi-sport basketball, volleyball and football fields as well as street workout and children's play areas.