Flaxmere Park's basketball court damaged weeks after opening
Flaxmere's councillors are "extremely disappointed" one of the suburb's brand new basketball courts has been damaged less than two months after its grand opening.
The Hoops in Parks facility, at Flaxmere Park, has had its "thick, tempered glass backboard" smashed.
A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said they were alerted to the damage after a resident called their customer support centre at about 7pm last night, and had further emails this morning.
While the final cost has "not been established yet", a replacement backboard is expected to cost about $1000 excluding installation.
"The hoop is with the council for safekeeping in the meantime," the spokeswoman said.
A brand new basketball court at Flaxmere Park has been damaged. Photo/Chris Kiely
Flaxmere councillors Henare O'Keefe and Peleti Oli said they work really hard to get the word out there about all the amazing people and things that are happening in Flaxmere, so to have something like this happen is "really not cool".
"To say we are extremely disappointed regarding the damage would be an understatement," O'Keefe said.
"Our basketball courts are extremely popular. Pass there any day of the week and you'll see wall-to-wall whānau of all ages, having the time of their lives. It's more than a basketball court, it's a haven whereby community get to know and appreciate one another."
Oli said it had been "so positive" having these hoops in Flaxmere - "especially this one in this central location for everyone to use, and now a few have ruined it for everyone".
But despite this, they are determined to "press on" and keep their "Fabulous Flaxmere, fabulous".
It's understood two of the boys believed to be responsible helped clean up the smashed glass.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and Flaxmere councillors Henare O’Keefe and Peleti Oli pictured at the opening of the basketball court in December. Photo/Supplied.
