Our basketball court on Brighton & Hove seafront will reopen this week following an eye-catching refurbishment.
The facility has undergone significant improvements, with new hoops and backboards installed and the playing surface replaced and increased in size.
It also boasts a vibrant new pink and blue court design, developed by Sam Sure from Half Decent Day.
The finishing touches are now being added ahead of an official launch event on Saturday 31 May.
Starting at 11am and running until 3pm, the event will include free basketball coaching for children, exhibition games, a slam dunk display, music and giveaways.
We've funded the project, with additional support from Foot Locker and the Hoopsfix Foundation, a charity that works to promote UK basketball, increase participation in the sport and help to revitalise public courts.
The changes followed our public consultation, which asked residents what improvements they would like made to the court.
More than 500 people responded, with 98% asking for new hoops and backboards and 86% wanting to see a bigger court.
Following the subsequent work, which was carried out by Blakedown Landscapes, the court now benefits from a new surface, FIBA regulation distance markings across one full court, regulation Perspex backboards and spring-loaded rings.
It has also been extended by 4 metres in length and 2 metres in width.
As part of an ongoing collaboration with Hoopsfix, the court will also begin to host regular tournaments and competitions – another key priority identified during consultation.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for Sports, Recreation and Libraries at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This is a fantastic example of the council listening to what people want from their sports facilities and working with partners to deliver it.
“Basketball is now the second most popular team sport among children and young people in England, with more than 1.2 million people aged 5 to 16 playing the sport every week. The demand for better facilities is huge and we know locally just how popular the sport – and this court – has become.
“Our thanks go to Foot Locker and the Hoopsfix Foundation for their support. To have the court ready for summer is brilliant and I can’t wait to see it busy and being enjoyed again.”
Sam Neter, from Hoopsfix, said: “This is one of the most iconic courts in the country and so to be able to have played a role in the refurb is a true honour. It is all the more meaningful for me, having grown up just 45 minutes away in Eastbourne, and I look forward to watching it get well used by players of all ages over the coming years.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Brighton & Hove City Council on this project. Their openness and willingness to listen to the needs of the basketball community was extremely refreshing.”
Steve Buckingham, CEO of Blakedown Landscapes, said: “Delivering the refurbishment of this court reflects our commitment at Blakedown to creating high-quality, accessible outdoor sports facilities.
“This upgraded court supports inclusive participation, community wellbeing and grassroots basketball, while also celebrating the identity of Brighton’s seafront.”