Much-needed makeover for Windmill Pavilion
The original home of Auckland Netball has received a much-needed facelift.
The Windmill Pavilion celebrated its reopening for the start of the season following an upgrade led by Auckland Council’s parks and community facilities team and contractors.
The facility is part of Windmill Park, a popular sports and recreation space overseen by Albert-Eden Local Board and leased to Auckland Netball who operate it as a satellite netball facility.
With its newly upgraded kiosk space, toilet facilities, first aid room and storage, the facility is dressed ready to impress for the 2024 season.
Board chairperson Kendyl Smith is delighted for the netball community and other users of Windmill Park.
“We are thrilled to see this facility brought back to life for one of our most popular parks.
“Delivering high-quality facilities, which meet a range of needs, ensures the community have the opportunity to live healthy and active lifestyles.
“The pavilion building has served the netball community for many decades; however, it had a number of structural and seismic issues which have now been addressed and so we are very pleased to return this facility to the community.
“We’ve worked closely with Auckland Netball on this project and recently renewed the lease to them so we know it will be well-looked after and cared for,” adds Smith.
Windmill Park is a well-used sports and recreation park, enormously important to Auckland Netball since the 1930s.
From 1932 until 2006, Windmill Road netball courts was the home of the country’s oldest and largest centre before the organisation moved to new facilities at Ngahue Reserve in St Johns.
Auckland Netball chief executive Dianne Lasenby said the organisation was very excited about the developments at Windmill Rd. “The new facility will enable us to continue to grow our competitions and holiday programmes and provide opportunities for the local community.”
“Modernising the building and facilities will be beneficial for locals and everyone who use Windmill Rd as their home base,” Lasenby said.
Junior games got under way at the courts this month.