Auckland Council delivers upgrades to basketball courts and playspaces

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/