Sheffield Parkour park group begin fund-raising
A Sheffield group is hoping to raise £100,000 to build a Parkour training park in the city.
Parkour, or free running, is an outdoor sport that involves running and jumping over steps, walls, trees, railings and buildings.
Sheffield Parkour Movement, which has about 100 members, runs training sessions across South Yorkshire.
The group has drawn up designs for the park and has held talks with Sheffield City Council.
Paul Billington, the council's director of culture and environment said: "The council is aware of the efforts of this enthusiastic group and we wish them well in their fund-raising efforts.
"The project is still at a very early stage and, like all projects in parks, it will be subject to on-going consultation with park users and local people, and all parties will have to be sure in advance that all the funding, including on-going maintenance, is in place."
The group currently trains in parks and public places, sometimes being moved on by security guards.
Ahmed Saricicek, vice chair of Sheffield Parkour Movement, said a custom-built park would allow people to learn the sport in a controlled environment.
He said: "At the moment we've got hundreds of people just in Sheffield alone who want to use it.
"It will bring so many people into parkour. It'll be a ground-breaking thing if we get this park built."