Work is about to start on tripling the number of basketball courts located within the inner city’s National Park.
The decision to add four more was based on the popularity of the existing complex since opening in September last year.
“Each weekend, hundreds of mostly young people flock to National Park to use the blue basketball courts and the green space located on the site of the former bowling club building,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Based on the demand, we’re continuing our re-activation of the former tennis courts located near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets by increasing the total number of basketball courts to six.
“By delivering four additional courts, we’re increasing the opportunity for our community to get outdoors to participate in casual sport and exercise.”
Seating, shade shelters and a drinking fountain will also be installed as part of the work, with lighting to be considered during the development of the National Park Plan of Management and associated Landscape Masterplan.
Cr Nelmes said the long-term future of the space would then be determined.
“We recently consulted with our community regarding the future of National Park to inform the revised National Park Plan of Management and Landscape Masterplan, which are now under development,” she explained.
“National Park is such a unique recreation space located in the heart of Newcastle.
“It will continue to play an important part in the liveability of our city into the future.”
Local basketball mentor Kristy Flores, who has played and coached USA college basketball, said the sporting community had welcomed the news of additional courts in National Park.
“Newcastle has a growing number of basketball players and it’s been fantastic for both amateurs and professional players to have access to such great facilities,” she stated.
“I’m sure that once the additional courts are complete and there’s space for spectators to sit and relax, that National Park will become even more popular a recreational hub.”
National Park is one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves, covering more than 20 hectares and is currently home to a range of community facilities including sportsgrounds, netball courts, croquet club and athletics track.
The northwest corner of the park was formerly home to tennis courts and a bowling club, which was later occupied by charity Life Without Barriers until 2017.
In 2019, City of Newcastle started a process to provide safe public access to the northwest corner of the park, including demolishing the fire damaged Life Without Barriers building and turfing the area for passive recreation.
Construction on the new courts will begin this week.
For a complete listing of basketball courts throughout Newcastle visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au
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