AusLeisure

Auckland Council's Kaipātiki Local Board has been upgrading basketball full-courts and half-courts across the area, including at Lysander Reserve, Manuka Reserve, Marlborough Park, and now Normanton Reserve.

The upgraded basketball court at Normanton Reserve in Glenfield is now complete following resurfacing and upgraded hoops with Local Board chairperson John Gillon noting “Harbour Basketball has advised that there are now around 290 local school teams on the North Shore, so this court will definitely be as popular as the others have proven to be.

“Basketball has been growing in popularity and the local board is well aware of the need for quality basketball facilities in our parks.”

Deputy chairperson Danielle Grant adds “over recent years we’ve installed nature play climbing equipment on the hill, upgraded the learn-to-ride path, built a new skate dot feature, and installed lighting along the path.

“We also continue to work with the council’s Healthy Waters team on daylighting the stream in the reserve and more play spaces are planned.”

Meanwhile, the damaged basketball hoop at Marlborough Park will be replaced with a different design soon.

In addition to the now completed Normanton Reserve works, new shade sails are now in place in Monarch Park in Hillcrest, and work is underway to upgrade the playgrounds at Jean Sampson Reserve at Northcote Point and Elliott Reserve in Bayview.

Gillon explains “as a board, we have put a real emphasis on making sure our playgrounds are modern and fun. We realise that our parks are not just for play, but also for quiet contemplation.

“We also continue to invest in our SunSmart programme to ensure there is plenty of shade over our playgrounds to keep our tamariki (children) safe.

"At Jean Sampson Reserve the playground will be upgraded and fenced to create a fun play space with a focus on toddlers. Children will be able to enjoy slides, tunnel, sandpit, climbing and imaginative play. New picnic tables are going in and the current swing is being upgraded to include a basket swing."

Image top: action at Normanton Reserve; Image top: Kaipātiki Local Board members officially open upgraded courts at Normanton Reserve - from left, Melanie Kenrick, Danielle Grant (deputy chairperson), John Gillon (chairperson) and Paula Gillon. Courtesy of ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/

Related Articles

18th March 2021 - Call for papers issued for 2022 Auckland IWG World Conference on Women & Sport

16th December 2020 - Auckland sport and recreation Women’s Networking Event focuses on empowerment and future initiatives

11th December 2020 - Aktive launches Auckland sport and recreation Facility Planning Roadmap

11th October 2020 - Portable goals help Auckland’s young handballers develop their skills

14th August 2020 - Sporting events in jeopardy under Auckland’s new Coronavirus lockdown

17th July 2020 - Auckland Council collaborates with business and community to revegetate environment

6th July 2020 - Auckland sports facilities continue to grow

27th April 2020 - New Auckland playground design inspired by Helensville’s timber history and stream

9th April 2020 - Auckland sport and recreation survey identifies much-needed COVID-19 support

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.