Wakefield now has a 3x3 basketball court and a Tall Black has already been shooting hoops with the locals.
Tall Black and Giants player Alex McNaught joined other Giants players for the opening of the new court at McGazzaland, which features a fully adjustable hoop and is designed for three players a side.
Tasman District Council parks officer Tony Strange – who played for the Giants “hundreds of years ago” – says the facility came about after Sport New Zealand wanted to contribute funding to communities affected by last year’s floods.
That triggered further support from community partners, including BNZ Hoops in Parks. Hoops have been erected at Tapawera and Ngātīmoti schools, along with the new court at Wakefield.
“Instead of running programmes, we felt putting something substantial and lasting here would be more beneficial to the community,” Tony says.
“It’s all about shooting hoops. It’s very accessible, including for our wheelchair friends.”
Tony says the 3x3 court was chosen as a good fit for the area without compromising parking or the neighbouring football field.
Mayor Tim King said the court was the result of a massive amount of community involvement and “an absolutely fantastic facility”, before sinking the ball on his third attempt.
The Wakefield court was officially opened five years to the day after the neighbouring McGazzaland pump track, which was named after Wakefield-born mountain biking legend Kelly “McGazza” McGarry, opened
Daniel Dawick from Basketball New Zealand says facilities such as the new Wakefield court will create more opportunities for people to play basketball around the country.
