A community group has lodged plans to transform a barren patch of grass into a 3G pitch designed to encourage youngsters to embrace sport.
Land at Lesser Borough Briggs, near the Elgin City FC ground in the Moray town, has been subject to various proposals over the years.
The Elgin Sports Community Trust wants to take control of the site from Moray Council and build a floodlit, all-weather sports surface estimated to be worth £600,000 on the common good land.
The group also aims to create two small five-a-side pitches, and a “sports court” area for other pastimes such as netball.
The trust, set up in 2017, says it would be available to community groups and individuals.
And members have now lodged documents with the local authority detailing their proposals – and stressing that the area could be used for activities other than football.
The papers state: “The initiative is aimed at addressing social and welfare issues, such as social isolation and inclusion, by linking with organisations such as Men’s Shed and offers the chance for local school children to experience programme and project management if or when the project is successful.
“Disabled and disadvantaged community groups will be considered first during the design phase, and the facility will not be limited to being used as a sports field.
“Any group that would benefit from using a safe, accessible, clean surface will be welcome to use the asset.
“The area of land proposed to be used for the development is classified as common good land and therefore available to be transferred from the council’s control so that
improvements to the playing surface can be made.”
Chairman of the charity, Dave Allen, said last month that the plans had “already triggered a real positive feeling among the community”.
He added: “I’ve received hundreds of supportive messages, great turnouts at meetings and encouragement from people, including local councillors, MSP Richard Lochhead and MP Douglas Ross – which shows the community is behind the facility.”
The trust recently announced that Volkerfitzpatrick and Mott MacDonald are two companies who have also pledged their support by offering to help build the pitch free of charge.
Elgin City Football Club previously tried to take control of the land for a new artificial training pitch in 2013.