For the women and girls playing soccer at Park Ridge Reserve in Rowville, the new changerooms mean much more than just another building.
Rowville Eagles Football Club, who are among the beneficiaries of Council's work to improve the pavilion and install modular changerooms at their home ground, say it's a matter of respect.
Club Vice President Lisa-Maria Mardale, whose daughter plays for the club, says the investment sends a message to the girls that their participation matters.
"For years, our female players made do with whatever space was available, sometimes waiting for the men's teams to finish before getting changed or using small, shared areas that didn't really meet their needs," she says. "It sent a quiet message that women's sport came second.
"This upgrade is about more than infrastructure, it's about equality, respect and belonging."
Council's work, which will also benefit Lysterfield Cricket Club, is part of a broader program to improve sporting pavilions across Knox.
Park Ridge's new modular changerooms include four all-inclusive changerooms, separate umpires' changerooms and accessible showers and toilets. The pavilion refurbishment features improvements to the clubrooms and amenities.
"Our mums now also have a space to take their children to the bathrooms safely on training and game days with a new parent's room and baby changing facilities," Lisa-Maria says.
"It means we can run more programs side by side - women's and men's teams, juniors and seniors - without juggling changeroom access or cutting training time short. It's opened the door to more flexibility, better scheduling and a stronger, more connected club community.
"We're already seeing the difference: more interest from new players, more families getting involved and a real buzz around our women's and girls' teams."
Many sport clubs across Knox are creating inclusive environments and opportunities for women, girls and non-binary people to play and participate.
Find local places to get active at knox.vic.gov.au/activewomen
