Sion Hill Village Hard Court completed

Sion Hill Village now has a completed hard court, after several years of stops and starts.{{more}}

The full-sized hard court was completed and officially opened last December. It comes with a pavilion, which can seat about 200 persons, and has special provision of a ramp, for persons who are wheelchair bound.

Additionally, the sporting facility is fitted with two dressing rooms, a dining area, and a store room.

Funded by the National Lotteries Authority, the completion of the project also involved the refurbishing of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra’s Pan Yard.

The cost of this final stage completion of the project has been estimated at EC$217, 000.

Manager of the National Sports Council (NSC) Osbourne Browne told SEARCHLIGHT that the hard court facility will serve multi-sporting disciplines.

He said the hard court will facilate basketball, netball and volleyball games, and plans are in the pipeline to have the playing surface marked out to introduce formally, the sport of Tennis to the community.

Browne said that with small-goal football, a popular event in the community, the game will be allowed on the court, so too will be the playing of softball cricket.

In fact, over the festive weekends, the hard court was the venue for several small-goal football competitions, including one for juveniles, put on by Lazarus Foundation.

Browne revealed that with the additional space in the pavilion, the placement of two table tennis boards is on the cards, as varied sporting opportunities are provided for the persons of the community.

The NSC Manager said the coming on stream of the hard court is timely, as it will provide the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation with an additional court to host matches in their national competitions.

Browne stated that the court has been extended 10 feet in length and one and a half feet in width, so as to accommodate such full-fledged competitions.

He added that the perimeter fence has been raised, along with installation of proper gates, including a large sliding gate, to facilitate movement of equipment in and out of the facility.

Browne said that the hard court will have a sense of community ownership, with a management committee in place to oversee the smooth running of the facility.

The NSC Manager said as a result of the financial resources invested in the facility, there will be security personnel stationed there.

Browne, projecting future enhancement of the facility, said that the next phase in its development will be the lighting of the court. (RT)