Safety slam dunk

• James Coxen, Austen Freeland, Harry Taylor, Linc and Beau Gerke enjoying the freshly relocated basketball hoop.

By Daisy Baker
July 08, 2020

Council has relocated Bridport’s foreshore basketball hoop from near the skatepark to be part of the main playground, with the hope it will be more user-friendly and make the area safer.
The installation was completed last week, with a small concrete slab laid beneath the hoop.
Councillor Leonie Stein approached management about moving the hoop after noticing it was rarely used and hearing feedback from local families.
 “I had a lot of kids saying they didn’t find it useful where it was before – there was no concrete and it was on uneven ground,” she said.
“It’s pointless having something kids can’t use. Now parents can be watching little ones on the equipment and their older kids can be playing here too.
“Sometimes kids don’t realise it’s a road in between the two playgrounds and go darting across, not checking for traffic and unfortunately there are some road users who aren’t aware that the road runs between two playgrounds, so having everything on one side will make it safer for everyone.”
The basketball hoop relocation is part of Council’s long-term plan to move all children’s equipment, including the skate park, onto the same side as the climbing frame and flying fox to improve the area’s safety.
$11,000 has been allocated in the 2020/21 budget for the Bridport Skate Park Design.
Mayor Greg Howard said the new skate park will likely be constructed during the 2021/22 financial year.
“The current skate park is in need of repair and it’s very dated,” he said.
“The idea is to move skatepark over to near where the Surf Life Saving Club is, so the playground, skate park and surf club are all on the same side, which will reduce likelihood of kids having to cross the road and make it safer for everyone.”