The project to renovate and enhance 17 basketball courts across Birmingham as part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy has began after contractor Blakedown Sport and Play was appointed to carry out the work.
The project, being overseen by Basketball England, Birmingham City Council and Sport England and part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will see 17 courts across the city have a distinct purple and grey colour way painted to pay homage to the Birmingham 2022 court at Smithfield, where England won 3×3 gold and silver medals.
The 17 courts are:
• Chamberlain Gardens
• Clifton Road Youth Centre
• Cotteridge Park
• George’s Park
• Gilbertstone Recreation Ground
• Hamstead Playing Fields
• Kings Heath Park
• Musgrave Road Recreation Ground
• Nechells Open Space (Mount Street)
• Nechells Wellbeing Centre
• Perry Common Recreation Ground
• Queen’s Park
• St Paul’s Trust Children’s Centre
• Shenley Field
• Tower Street Recreation Ground
• Victoria Common
• Woodview Pocket Park
Included in the 17 is Hamstead Playing Fields, the court that England and GB international Myles Hesson – who created one of the most watch moments of the Games, scoring the buzzer beater to sink Australia in the 3×3 gold medal game – played on as a youngster.
“When the England men’s and women’s teams created basketball history at Birmingham 2022, winning gold and silver medals, we saw how it captured people’s attention and imagination,” BE’s Head of Participation Peter Griffiths said.
“That summer, momentum for the sport changed and we wanted to ensure with Sport England and Birmingham City Council that everyone inspired by our athletes’ feats would have somewhere of their own to enjoy basketball and deliver a legacy from the Games.
“Birmingham has a proud basketball history from the Bullets to the Rockets and produced a Commonwealth Games hero in Myles Hesson. The work to bring these courts up-to-scratch means we are making good on our promise to create free and accessible playing opportunities and will further cement Birmingham as a basketball city.”
Birmingham City Council, Councillor Saima Suleman, Cabinet Member for Digital,
Culture, Heritage & Tourism, added:
“We are pleased to have formed the collaboration with Basketball England and Sport England to bring additional investment into local 3×3 basketball infrastructure across Birmingham’s parks, open spaces and youth centres.
“The Council committed to deliver a legacy from the B2022 Commonwealth Games and the refurbishment of 17 sites across the city will provide opportunities for our local communities to access and deliver basketball on their doorstep.
“The newly refurbished courts will have a more visible presence through their updated and colourful design, and we want to inspire the next generation of players through local activation and partnerships. A key priority for the Council is to ensure all communities
benefit from the investment into local facilities and we are excited to see how these
spaces are used and enjoyed for many years to come.”
BE will work with StreetGames, Sport Birmingham, local basketball clubs and community organisations to launch and activate all the sites, providing free coached 3×3 sessions for local communities at each court.
The legacy will also form part of Basketball England’s #ProjectSwish campaign, which was
launched in 2019 to improve and promote local spaces to play outdoors.
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