Alley-oops, treys and dunks are coming to Lakeside Park.
City council has approved a plan from Nelson Hoops Association to construct a new basketball court at the park next to the tennis courts.
The pitch was recommended by staff and enthusiastically received Tuesday by council, which also agreed to provide an in-kind contribution of up to $7,500.
Nelson Hoops president Jeremy Phelan said he thinks the community will be thrilled to use the new courts.
“We know that it’s been a long time coming to get to this point,” said Phelan. “However now the shovels got to hit the ground, and we’ve got to try to figure out how we’re going to fund the whole thing. So the real work starts now.”
The total estimated cost of the project is $174,313. Phelan said he hopes to break ground this fall but doesn’t expect the project to be completed until sometime next year.
City council also agreed to work with the Nelson Italian Canadian Society on finding a new home for the bocce lanes, which will be removed to make room for basketball.
Nelson has plenty of outdoor baskets, but no regulation-size court. Nelson Hoops’ plan calls for a court with regulation 10-foot baskets at either end as well as along the sides, and additional fencing and lighting.
READ MORE: Hoop dreams: Basketball court pitched for Lakeside Park
@tyler_harper | tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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