Ben’s Story: A whole different ball game

I’m Ben, I’m 19, and I live in Mixenden. Before the new basketball court was built at Mixenden Urban Park, the old one was basically unusable. The surface was uneven and covered in loose, broken rocks, and the hoops were bent, distorted, and missing nets.

Basketball has always been a passion of mine, but this was the only court anywhere near me. Because of how bad it was, I could only spend an hour or so a week practising, and even then, it was hard to get anything out of it.

Everything changed when the new court was installed.

Now the court has a proper surface, good hoops, and all the right markings. It’s honestly one of the best outdoor courts in the area. Since it opened, I’ve been able to play several times a week after work, and that extra practice has made a huge difference. It’s even helped me join the Calderdale Hawks Basketball team, where I now train every week.

Sometimes I end up playing for five or six hours at a time, it’s that good.

Having a proper court in my local area means I can play so much more than I ever could before.