Youth in the Dawson Road area of Otara will have noticed that their old basketball court on the Ferguson Oaks Reserve has moved and is bigger and better than before. This is because construction has started on the Clover Park Youth Library which is being built over the site of the original court.

Cr Len Brown says “The court is a major recreational facility for the area’s youth. We recognised its importance, and so rather than just build over it, Council relocated it and extended the size of the court. Retaining the basketball court was critical to the overall library project.”

To celebrate the completion of the new full-sized court, Council has organised an opening ceremony on Friday 30 March at 3.45 pm. The Auckland Basketball team is playing a Tangaroa College team and an invitational Otara side which has been organised by Otara Community Board member and youth worker, Allan Va'a.

The captain of the Auckland team, Dillon Boucher, has been working in Manukau schools coaching basketball and developing the skills and talent of local youth. He says the programme is tailor-made to fit the requirements of the schools and to cater for all ages and abilities. “Our aim is to promote basketball as a major sport in New Zealand, and we are more than happy to help out with the opening of this new court. It’s good to see facilities like this provided by Councils.”

“The $1.5 million library is being built particularly for the youth of the Clover Park area. Having a basketball court on the site may help encourage those who would not normally use a library to come in and have look,” said Cr Brown.

ENDS

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