Through the refurbishment – completed in alliance with Sport England and Manchester Active – the court now boasts a totally new surface, complete with a beautiful black and red colourway, in tribute to the ball designed by Project in the Paint’s Gareth Roberts, three full-sized basketball hoops, and official court markings to play the 3x3 and 5v5 formats of the game.
Manchester's basketball community turned out to enjoy the court's big reveal and Basketball England asked them what it meant.
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"Basketball's growing in the UK. Any space where young people can play is what we need. It's what they need." Ambo Bell
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"I live about five minutes away and use the court all the time. This is a really good job. The nets look good, the backboards look good and the surface looks good." Darren Stephenson
"It needed a retouch, especially because you see more people engaging in basketball." Johnathan Nyandwe
"The refurb is perfect. It doesn't even feel like the UK any more." Mouhamed Samb
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"I like using outdoor courts in the summer because you can't really get your hands on indoor courts. It's crazy how one court can change everything - it's great for the culture." Yasmin Labied
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"I don't think I've ever played on a court this nice outside." Team England 3x3 Gold Medallist Jamell Anderson
"No one took care of the court before. My dad and I used to push the leaves off the court, so I could play. Now, I can shoot whenever I want." Anya Williams
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"I've been a part of this court for 25 years. Over the last three years, we've grown a community of 200 basketballers - Hulme ballers. Now it's been uplifted the players are elevated and a lot happier." Jono 'The Ref' Marshall
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"This is Manchester's Rucker Park." Adam Masters
"My dad and I run outdoor community basketball sessions in Salford. It would be amazing to have a court regeneration like this there." Rhys Matthews
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"It's important for Manchester to have open and free spaces for our children to play basketball, especially during the offseason where indoor spaces can be limited." Aylita Daniel and daughter
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