The Grassroots Story Behind St. Petersburg's Community Sport Movement

More than 180 students from five high schools signed up this month for the summer track and field sessions run by the Petrogradskaya Sports Club on Kamennoostrovsky Prospect.

The effort comes as city budgets for youth facilities remain flat while demand for after-school options grows. Parents and former athletes have stepped in to fill gaps left by reduced municipal funding, turning empty school yards and small parks into regular training spots. The timing aligns with the start of the new academic year preparations, when families look for structured activities that do not require long travel or high fees.

Neighbourhood programs take root

At the Ligovsky Avenue Youth Center in the Moskovsky District, volunteers clear a section of the adjacent field every Tuesday and Thursday for relay drills and long-jump practice. The same group now runs a separate Saturday session at School No. 157 on Sredny Prospect in Vasilyevsky Island, where students from three nearby schools share equipment stored in a converted classroom. These sites sit within walking distance of most participants, cutting transport costs that previously kept some families away.

Organisers track attendance through a simple sign-in sheet and adjust times around exam periods. The model relies on borrowed cones, second-hand hurdles and a single timing watch purchased with a 15,000-ruble donation collected last spring.

Numbers behind the effort

City education records show high school athletics participation rose from 4,200 students in 2023 to 5,350 this spring, a 27 percent increase concentrated in districts with active volunteer groups. Session fees at the Petrogradskaya and Ligovsky sites average 250 rubles per month, compared with 1,200 rubles charged by private clubs. Registration for the next block of sessions opens July 20 at both locations and at the district education office on Liteyny Prospect.

Families can also attend a free open practice on July 18 at the Krestovsky Island training field to try events before committing. Details appear on the Petrogradskaya Sports Club notice board and the Moskovsky District school portal.