Ravenscourt Park to Have New Basketball and Netball Courts

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Olympic legacy facilities due to open next month

Brand new, state-of-the-art, basketball and netball courts at Hammersmith's Ravenscourt Park are set to become West London’s most visible legacy of the London Olympic Games.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council say they are about to upgrade the current courts so that they meet international standards.

The improvements include:

•An international sized basketball show court
•Resurfacing the netball and basketball playing surfaces
•Brand new three-on-three basketball training and competition areas
•Seating for spectators and park visitors
•Improved landscaping around the courts

Basketball and netball are two of the fastest growing sports in Hammersmith & Fulham. So when the English Outdoor Basketball Initiative (OBI) started looking for a local authority to team up with to create a basketball Olympic legacy facility, H&C Council was only too happy to help.

The total cost of the scheme is £197,500. The OBI will be providing £75,000, with £72,000 from Sport England and £50,000 from the council. Work is likely to be complete in time for the London Olympics.

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: "This is excellent news for everyone who enjoys playing basketball and netball. There are so many wonderful sporting facilities in Hammersmith & Fulham and we are delighted that we will soon be able to add these new courts to that list.

" I am particularly pleased that we have managed to secure external funding for these improvements, ensuring that the cost to the local taxpayer is kept to a minimum.

" The London Olympics are almost upon us and it is exciting to see West London’s most visible legacy project taking shape."

Mel Welch, Chairman of the OBI commented: " We are delighted that we have managed to find such an excellent partner as Hammersmith & Fulham Council. The location at Ravenscourt Park is the best we have found, after searching the country for a suitable Olympic legacy for our programme.

" Once the facility is built, our involvement will be handed over to England Basketball, and I am sure that they will be keen to use it for a number of high profile activities to showcase the sport."

Ravenscourt Park is one of six Green Flag parks in Hammersmith & Fulham, meaning that it is officially one of the best parks in the country. The park is also home to a children’s paddling pool which is likely to prove hugely popular over the coming months.

The Outdoor Basketball Initiative is a not-for-profit company, originally set up by England Basketball, to manage a programme to provide easy to access opportunities to play basketball outdoors. To date, they have erected over 9,000 basketball goals throughout England.

June 15, 2012