Children attend a basketball class at Panhuo Sports Park under an overpass in Yinzhou district, Ningbo. [Photo by Xiao Da/chinadaily.com.cn] 

More than 20 sports parks have been built under overpasses throughout Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, according to data from the Ningbo comprehensive administrative law enforcement bureau. 

The move is an effort by local authorities to utilize idle land and create more exercise venues for local residents. 

One such example is Panhuo Sports Park. 

Located under the Panhuo Overpass in the city's Yinzhou district, the park, occupying an area of roughly 10,000 square meters, consists of an indoor badminton court, an outdoor basketball court, and supporting facilities such as public restrooms. 

The park is now in use over 80 percent of the time after operating for several months, with more than 600 people visiting daily.

Another example is the sports park located under the overpass near Wanshixu village in Zhenhai district. It spans an area of 13,000 square meters. 

Over the past two years, the park has served tens of thousands of residents in seven surrounding villages.

By the end of last year, Ningbo had 2.43 square meters of recreational sports area per capita, higher than the provincial average. However, with the city's expansion, more sports venues are needed.

Wang Yijun, chairman of Ningbo Yuhang Sports Development Co Ltd, which has taken part in the construction of numerous such parks, said that the profitability of such venues was comparable to those of regular stadiums, according to early trial results.