South Kesteven District Council has approved plans by Bourne United Charities to put up a fence around the Abbey Lawn, which has been blighted by vandalism over the past few years.
Chairman of Bourne United Charities Geoff Greatwood said: "I am very pleased with the news as we had put in a lot of work at the planning stages.
"Bourne United Charities will now move forward with every
intention of getting the fence built as soon as we are able."
Mr Greatwood said the charities, which owns the lawn, would need to speak to contractors before work on constructing the fence would start but said: "Clearly the sooner we can get the fence built, the
better it is for the sports groups that use the lawn."
Prominent sportsman Terry Bates, who died in January,
campaigned for measures to stop vandalism on the lawn for many years and formed the Abbey Lawn Sports Association, which
represents groups using the lawn.
Chairman of the association Derek Bontoft said: "I am
absolutely delighted and had Terry still been alive, he would have been over the moon as well. It is a sad sign of the times that we have to fence it off but I do believe it's the only way we can move forward."
Bourne mayor Trevor Holmes said he was pleased things were moving forward but added: "It is a sad day when such a course of
action is not only necessary but
essential for the well-being of sports clubs which use the grounds."
The Abbey Lawn was bought by the charities in the 1930s with the intention of preserving it as an open space but persistent problems with vandalism have forced trustees to act.
The lawn is used by the town's swimming, football, cricket, tennis, petanque and bowls clubs.