One of Basildon’s flagship leisure facilities has hit a major milestone, welcoming its 20 millionth visitor since opening in 2011.
Basildon Sporting Village, which was officially opened by The Duke of Gloucester on 30 April 2011, marked the occasion by surprising local mum Zoe Stewart.
A familiar face at the site, Zoe has been visiting for more than 12 years, with her children regularly taking part in swimming lessons and sports courses. After starting their activities at Eversley Leisure Centre, the family moved to Basildon Sporting Village in 2018 and have remained regular users ever since.
Zoe said: “We’ve been coming here for years and it’s a huge part of our lives. The kids have grown up through their lessons and activities, so it’s really special to be recognised like this. It was a complete surprise.”
To celebrate the milestone, Zoe was presented with a prize package including an annual membership and a range of free activities such as swimming lessons, family swimming and sports hall sessions. She also received a hamper filled with sports equipment, Everyone Active merchandise and a selection of food and drink treats for the whole family.
The multi-sport venue, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Basildon Borough Council, features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, learner pool, athletics stadium, gym, group exercise studios and sports hall. Since opening, the site has continued to expand its offer in recent years with the addition of facilities including Golf Pod, padel courts and a climbing wall.
Its 50-metre pool has also hosted elite sport, including welcoming the Japanese Olympic swimming team for pre-Games training ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
Tom Fletcher, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said: “Reaching 20 million visits is a huge achievement and underlines just how important Basildon Sporting Village is to the local community.
“We’re proud to provide a facility that supports people of all ages and abilities to stay active, and it’s fantastic to see families like Zoe’s making the most of everything on offer over so many years.”
A council spokesperson said: “Reaching our 20 millionth visitor is an incredible milestone and a real testament to the success of Basildon Sporting Village. It’s fantastic to see how this flagship facility continues to inspire residents of all ages to get active, stay healthy and be part of something special.
“Working together with Everyone Active, we’ve built more than just a venue, we’ve built a thriving community hub that’s helping people enjoy sporting and wellbeing every single day.”
Zoe was presented with her prizes by Everyone Active colleagues at the centre to mark the occasion.