It won't be long before Inverell's youth - and some of the not-so-young - will be shooting hoops at the new outdoor half-court basketball court.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon inspected progress on the youth-friendly open space project near the town's skate park on Tuesday.
Almost $90,000 has been spent on the new facility.
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Mr Marshall said activating the area would transform the largely disused open space into a safe and vibrant youth hangout.
"Located next to the skatepark, foundation work is underway on the new half-court basketball court which, once complete, will be open for play 24/7 and the new mural wall," Mr Marshall said.
"Council wants this space to represent the unique ideas and diverse makeup of the Inverell community and to do that is building a mural wall which it will engage young artists to paint.
"Next, work will begin on installing three solar powered shade shelters, which will include charge points for mobile devices, along with solar lighting across the space.
"This project has the potential to provide huge social benefit to the Inverell community, with 3500 people each year expected to engage with the park and take the opportunity to improve their health through activity and build relationships with their friends and community," he said.
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Cr Harmon said the space was part of a wider effort to encourage young people to live, stay and work in Inverell.
"Young people are any community's biggest asset and unless they made to feel welcome and included they are not likely to stay and pursue work locally once they leave school," Cr Harmon said.
"I'm excited that by the Christmas holidays this entire project will be complete and open for public use.
"It's connection to the CBD through the town wide bike path system and proximity to the CBD, I hope the skate park becomes a gathering place for young people, where they can be active and hang out together.
"Into the future I can see this area playing a central role in various Council youth programs," Cr Harmon said.
