Launched in partnership with the Hoopsfix Foundation, Basketball England, the London Marathon Foundation, Haringey Council, Half Decent Day and the Garfield Weston Foundation, this project has been in development for over a year and will deliver a high-quality space for the local community to use.
This is Access Sport’s second basketball renovation in London, having developed a new court in Burgess Park, South London, in the summer of 2024.
Following the launch, Access Sport will activate a new inclusive community basketball club at the court - Turnpike Lane Basketball Club. This community club will focus on encouraging underserved young people in the area to get active through basketball.
Access Sport has worked with Basketball England to provide the club with accessible basketball equipment.
"We're delighted to be supporting Access Sport in the launch of another brilliant art court, this time at the iconic Turnpike Lane courts.
"We know how integral it is to have safe spaces for young people to enjoy playing basketball, which is why we're working hard with our partners to revamp the nation's outdoor courts so that more communities can enjoy basketball, which brings people together, removes barriers, and changes lives."
"We're incredibly proud to be part of the renovation of Turnpike Lane basketball courts, one of London’s most iconic and well-loved outdoor courts.
"For years, the basketball community has been asking for more high-quality, dedicated outdoor spaces like Turnpike Lane, and through our partnership with Access Sport, we're glad to have been able to bring it back up to scratch.
"I also want to pay tribute to Ben Blossom, a regular at the courts who sadly passed away. In his memory, his family invited donations towards the refurbishment - their generosity played a vital role in helping make this project happen."
Over the coming months, Access Sport will recruit and train local volunteers to run regular sessions and support the community long term.
The new court design was created following a series of community consultations. Access Sport worked with the basketball brand, Half Decent Day, to create an inclusive and engaging design that incorporated the community’s input. The logo was created with a nod to the area’s rich basketball history and looks to give the community a sense of ownership over the facility.
This project is part of a wider collaboration between Access Sport and the London Marathon Foundation, which will see £1.6 million invested in inclusive basketball and cycling activities across London.
The partnership aims to make inclusion the norm in community sport by training volunteers, activating new community facilities and supporting community clubs to run inclusive offers.
“Turnpike Lane has always felt like one of the original streetball courts in London - a place rich in basketball history and community. Being part of shaping its identity and bringing it to life with a bold, new design is a true honour.”
"Thank you to all the partners involved in this process; without your support, we wouldn’t have been able to revitalise this historic court. We look forward to seeing it grow into a vibrant hub where local young people can connect through basketball.”
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