PLACEnews April 2010 Issue 6
Adelaide City Council Scores Points for Engaging with the Community to create a Basketball Court in Whitmore Square
A new basketball half court in Whitmore Square, Adelaide, is proving popular with the community. This is not surprising given the comprehensive community engagement process that Adelaide City Council employed in the design and development of this new recreation facility.
The idea for a basketball facility in Whitmore Square was first put to Adelaide City Council by a local community member wanting a place for her teenage sons and their friends to shoot some hoops and get some physical activity locally. Given the novelty of a recreation facility of this nature being built in one of the City’s five Squares, Council decided to seek community opinion on the idea, to determine support, or otherwise, for a basketball court in this parkland location.
A comprehensive community consultation process with local residents, businesses and relevant stakeholders was undertaken using a number of methods to reach a broad cross-section of people:
• 650 letters, with an attached feedback form and self addressed return envelope, were delivered to residents and businesses around Whitmore Square
• 140 letters and 200 emails to members of a local Community Network
• An email to the local Precinct Association for distribution to its members
• An email to 60 members of the Central Workers with Youth Action Network (CWYAN)
• Notification of the proposal and related on-line feedback forms via the local newspaper
• Two community site meetings were conducted
• Relevant stakeholders were contacted, such as youth and basketball organisations
The participants were asked if they are in favour of a 3-on-3 basketball court in Whitmore Square and if so which court size would be preferable:
Option 1 – Small informal court (8m x 8.5m)
Option 2 – Modified basketball half court (15m x 9m)
Option 3 – Basketball half court (15m x 14m)
Feedback was received from a total of 112 local people and 11 youth or basketball agencies. The majority (75%) of these were in favour of the proposal and of the 25% of respondents not in favour stated so because of possible anti-social behaviours, associated noise issues and the increase of hard space in the Square.
With the resounding positive community response for Option 2, Council was ready to confidently approve and deliver the entire project within 5 months. This example highlights that a community truly connected in the whole process, can claim ownership of a place, resulting in a strengthened sense of community.
