On top of making great music, Hamilton’s beloved rockers Arkells are big fans of giving back to the city they call home.
Most recently, they collaborated the city’s Ward 3 and its councillor, Nrinder Nann, on an effort to fundraise $80,000 for a major upgrade to the multi-use basketball court in Woodlands Park, located in Barton Village.
According to a social media post by Nann, the process began when Arkells frontman Max Kerman reached out to her at the beginning of this year about the prospect of creating a professional-grade recreation court in the east end – complete with spectator bleachers, acrylic court surfacing, and lighting upgrades – that’s open for public access.
.@NrinderWard3 and @arkellsmusic have teamed up to provide a "professional grade" basketball court at Woodlands Park. #HamOnt https://t.co/cVoh3kYQVd
— CBC Hamilton (@CBCHamilton) May 9, 2022
“When talking with Max about it, he said ‘basketball has a very low cost barrier to play. We care about good public space and want to enable neighbours to play some serious basketball year round and for years to come,’” wrote Nann on social media.
“I totally agree. Especially after so many of us have become more sedentary during lockdowns over the past two years. I hope this refurbished court will inspire people of all ages to get away from screens and get outside for some ball.”
Donors for this valuable community project include Ron Foxcroft and the Foxcroft Family Foundation, the Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and the Nick Nurse Foundation, “Nav” Bhatia, and Canada Basketball CEO Michael Bartlett who also lent his expertise to the project’s specs.
The court, which Nann has moved to have named ‘The Rally Court’ at the Public Works Committee last week, will be launched the week of June 25th; the same week as the Arkells massive Hamilton concert event The Rally at Tim Hortons Field.
Read more here.
Lead image courtesy of Nrinder Nann via Facebook
There are no comments
Add comment