The ribbon has been cut on North Bay’s new multi-use recreational courts, which have been open since the spring.
City, provincial and federal officials gathered with several area youth for the Friday morning event.
“North Bay is now a basketball town,” Mike Mitchell, President of the North Bay Spartans youth basketball program told the crowd.
He says he’s not surprised the courts are being used all day and night long.
“Not at all. Kids have been climbing fences and trying to find a place to play for years now,” Mitchell says. “These are overdue in the City of North Bay and I’m not surprised at all that they’re used morning to night. The nice thing is these courts are lit, they’re on motion sensors.”
Mitchell says with waterfront attractions for younger kids and adults already in place, these multi-use courts and future projects give teenagers and youth something to do, too.
“With basketball growing in popularity since the Raptors victory in 2019 it’s very popular for kids who happen to be here,” he says. “But skateboarding, BMX and scootering are very popular. A skate park and pump track gives an opportunity for kids on bicycles and scooters to come down and enjoy their preferred recreation.”
A skate park and pump track has budgeted for by the city and will be located behind the multi-use courts.
Downtown officials have said a play structure could be set up near the Rotary Splash Pad at some point in the future, too.
The multi-use recreation courts were largely funded by a federal and provincial grant of more than $300,000 provided through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
