Lotteries Fund backing to help Hamilton City Council create active community parks

Hamilton City Council has announced that it has this week received an award of $1 million towards two play, open space and sport projects from the Lottery Grants Board.

2023 will see $500,000 will be invested in floodlighting for 21 sport fields across six parks, while the other $500,000 will help the Magical Bridge Trust build New Zealand's first fully accessible playground in Claudelands.

Council’s floodlighting project will make sure training facilities at Korikori Park, Gower Park and Porritt Stadium are well-lit and up to scratch for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.  

Galloway Park, Ashurst Park and Flynn Park will also benefit from improved lighting. 

Advising that having more well-lit sports fields will be game-changing for residents, Hamilton Mayor, Paula Southgate stated "the current lack of lighting means our residents and sports clubs can’t use the fields in winter during the week.

“This will be so good for encouraging local sport - something that helps our communities build connections and shape healthy, active lifestyles. It helps keep us fit and healthy and brings us together.”

Adding that this project is a key priority for Council’s newly formed City Investment Programme, which aims to unlock Hamilton’s potential as a connected, vibrant, attractive and prosperous city, Mayor Southgate noted "along with increasing sport participation, the improvements will also help attract world-class events to our city."

Over the last 18 months, the Council has secured a total of $2.3 million from key partners and investors to support the floodlighting project. Other funding partners include Trust Waikato (a founding project partner), WEL Energy Trust, and New Zealand's Ministry of Business and Innovation.

Key supporters include Melville United, the Claudelands Rovers, Northern United, Hamilton Wanderers, WaiBOP Football and Sport Waikato.

Magical Bridge Playground funding  
Led by the Council’s community partner, the Magical Bridge Trust, the playground will be New Zealand’s first purposefully designed, fully accessible and inclusive playground. 

It will be a safe place to play for people of all physical capabilities and meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities including those with autism, and sensory, visual and hearing impairments. 

Magical Bridge Trust co-founder and Board Chair Peter van Vroonhoven said the $500,000 will mean the first stage of the project is now fully funded, statting "tThis great contribution from the Lottery Grants Board gives us the certainty that we will definitely have a playground being built in 2023, which is awesome.

"We’re working to secure funding for the final stage and the additions of accessible changing rooms, toilets, and car parking.” 

Council is contributing $1.4 million towards the project from its existing renewal budget for the current playground. The final estimated $2 million is to come from fundraising, grants and commercial partners.

Image credit: Hamilton City Council.