Turn the lights on at Moore Park Basketball Courts
Please turn on the lights at Moore Park basketball courts. These courts are some of the most well used in Sydney and there are always basketball players on the courts both day and night.
Netball games are played on some nights and the lights are turned on for these people. We understand there may be a fee that the council requires for these lights but it is almost impossible for this to be practical as basketball is much more informal than netball and often people are organised to play with no more than two or three others. Considering the high rates that residents of City of Sydney pay the cost involved in turning these lights on is minimal and will help the council achieve its aim of having active and healthy residents. Basketballers should not be discriminated for the informal nature of their game!
NB. I understand that Moore Park or Centennial Park trust may be specifically responsible for the actual operation of the lights however it is within council's mandate as a representative of it's residents to advocate changes such as this.
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Comments
I could not agree more. As a regular user of the courts it seems crazy to me that the council is not taking the initiative to encourage the use of their facilities. They have a lot to answer for!
even if we have to pay a small fee i dont care - just make it so it can be done spontaneously - coin operated timer for the lights or something - at least then we can do a walk around with a hat to collect money or something - its too informal for someone to pay in advance!
I agree.
It is unreasonable that all of facilities and infrastructure are in place but cannot be utilised to their full potential.
i like the idea of coin operated timers for the lights.
I totally agree.
The Moore Park basketball courts do indeed fall under the juridiction of the Parklands Office, and the City of Sydney encourages residents to contact the Office with their concerns.
The Parklands Office is located behind the Centennial Parklands Restaurant (off Parkes Drive), Banksia Way, Centennial Park and is open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm. The Centennial Parklands Foundation and Friends of Centennial Parklands operates out of these offices.
Phone: (02) 9339 6699
Fax: (02) 9360 4215
Email: info@centennialparklands.com.au
Address: Locked Bag 15, Paddington NSW 2021
City of Sydney
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
I second this, it's always a great friendly atmosphere down there and it always seems to get cut short.
I completely agree. The problem is even worse now that the Prince Alfred basketball courts (the only popular courts with reliable flood lights for informal games) are closed down for renovation. I agree with the original post/gripe that the council should _at least_ advocate to the Parklands Office appropriate actions.
In the meantime, the correct email for us to send our requests for reliable flood lighting is sport@centennialparklands.com.au
I contacted the Parklands sport office (in the email address I gave above) with our our request and here is the reply:
> Hi Thanassis,
>
> Appreciate your email and have read the comments on the council gripe site.
>
> The lights are turned on when there is a booking on the courts. To make a booking submit a Casual Sport application form which is available on the website at http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/activities/bookings_guide - if making a booking as a club / association / organisation then also submit a public liability insurance document.
>
> Fees and charges can be found at http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/34474/... which is also available on the website.
>
> Please add this information to the site if you think it will assist people with the correct procedures.
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I replied with the following email:
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Thanks for your prompt reply, and the information given.
As other people in the council gripe site point out, advanced bookings simply do not work for basketball pickup games.
It may be hard to understand for people not involved in the sport, but it is not like... say tennis, where 2 friends can
arrange a time and day and book a court. You need at least 8 people for a reasonable game and you find them on
the court, the moment you go there. Trying to enforce the system you are describing will simply result in people not
playing basketball in the evening. Since the courts are open to the public anyway and since most people have daytime
jobs, it is a pity that these resources are not used to the fullest by the community.
I understand there is a cost involved with the lights but maybe you can seek funding from the council or an _adhoc_
form of payment for the _cost_ of the lights from the players.
I see that the goals and values of the Trust of the Parklands include:
- Ensure equity of access and diversity of leisure experiences;
- Provision of opportunities for all people to enjoy a diversity of leisure, arts, sporting, entertainment and educational experiences;
In any case, I will update the council gripe thread.
Thanks again for your time and I am looking forward to a solution
Thanassis
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Well put Thanassis. I have sent a similar email to Moore Park and Prince Alfred Park.
Perhaps a professional basketball organisation (?Sydney Kings, Basketball Australia) could assist in advocacy. This is a problem across the city, some great public basketball courts that are inaccessible after dark.
Iain
good work than
keep it up
on a sidenote, anyone know how to turn the towers around i.e. if the netball ring is facing the court?u
Some of the netball posts are removable - you can use one to swing the basketball post around.
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