The Wellsford tennis and netball clubs finally have some positive news to share with their community after facing years of frustration due to poor drainage degrading their court areas and causing costly maintenance. 

In 2017 the tennis club surrendered their court lease in the hope that Auckland Council would take on the responsibility to upgrade facilities. With no local courts players were forced to join Warkworth and Mangawhai clubs to have games putting the Wellsford Club into recess. The netball club were able to carry on with limited court availability due to surface cracking. Two years ago the tennis turf was removed and the original asphalt surface patched up to allow more courts for netballers.  

However, this surface was still gritty raising health and safety concerns over the winter months. Last November Council laid a smooth surface on top as a temporary solution. Line markings allow for 2 netball, 2 tennis and 2 basketball courts complete with nets and ready for play.

The Wellsford Sports Collective had been lobbying council for many years to come up with a staged Master Plan for the whole park.  Auckland Council commissioned Visitor Solutions in 2023 to do a feasibility study to determine how a court facilities upgrade might proceed. Their initial plan was criticised for poor traffic flow, disjointed parking areas and unsafe pedestrian access. These criticisms were taken to a specialist park development company and have been revised. The revised plan allows for 3 stages of development:

1. Four netball / tennis courts and two basketball courts (multi-court style).
2. A new covered outdoor netball/ tennis court area and playground
3. A new building with provision for netball/ tennis and mezzanine seating.

Stage 1 has been budgeted for completion later this year with renewed plexi-pave surfacing and a widened court footprint.

Stages 2 and 3 are planned when additional outside funding becomes available. 

Anyone wanting to know more or support these developments please contact Wendy Crow-Jones (Tennis) 021 1446613 or Lynette Gubb (netball) 021 1168437 or email the Collective    [email protected]