Work to create a new eight lane athletics track as part of an £11.1m redevelopment of the Black Lion leisure centre in Gillingham is well underway.

The centre is being transformed into a regional centre of sporting excellence to be known as Medway Park.

Over the coming months we will following the project from construction site to final completion.

This is the state of play since December:

•New judo centre completed including:

• New changing rooms including new family area

• Permanent judo mats of international standard laid on a sprung, wooden floor sunk in to floor level.

• Club office and viewing gallery.

• Rainham Judo Club have moved in to the new centre and have changed their name to Medway Park Judo Club.

• The field has been landscaped to make way for the new track. This will be laid when the weather is a bit warmer.

• The swimming pools have had tiles replaced above and under water.

• There have also been other technical repairs to the pools. The major cosmetic changes to the pools will take place later in 2009.

Still to come:

Gymnastics centre, track layout and the new 12-court sports hall.