We are proud to celebrate the official reopening of the newly renovated basketball courts at Turnpike Lane, marking the occasion with an inclusive community celebration.

The transformation of the courts is the result of a year-long project led by Access Sport in partnership with the London Marathon Foundation, as part of a £1.6 million initiative to grow inclusive basketball and cycling opportunities across London.

The event welcomed special guests, including local basketball legend Hesketh and Chantel Charles, a former professional player from Hackney, helping to inspire the next generation of Turnpike Lane talent.

The Turnpike Lane renovation is Access Sport’s second basketball court upgrade in London, and work is already underway to improve more BMX pump tracks and basketball courts across the country.

Crucially, the next phase of the project will see the creation of a new inclusive community club: Turnpike Lane Basketball Club. The club will provide regular sessions for local young people, with training and volunteer opportunities available to residents who want to support the initiative long-term.

The vibrant new court artwork, created by Sam Sure of Half Decent Day, was designed with input from the local community to celebrate Turnpike Lane’s rich basketball culture and dynamic future.

The project was made possible through collaboration with several valued partners:

• Basketball England
• The Hoopsfix Foundation
• Haringey Council
• The Garfield Weston Foundation
• The London Marathon Foundation.

Special thanks also to the Blossom family, whose generous donation was made in memory of Ben Blossom, a local architectural photographer, regular user of the courts, and former Hoxton Heat player. Ben’s wife Phoebe and sons JJ and Louis joined the celebrations.

Speaking at the launch event, Helen Rowbotham, CEO of Access Sport, said:

"We want all young people, whatever their background, to access the life-changing benefits of sport. This court is a vital new space for the community and just the beginning of what we hope to build here. Thank you to all of the partners and Access Sport staff involved in bringing everything together and getting this amazing project over the line!”

Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Emily Arkell, said:

“I’m delighted that, in collaboration with Access Sport and our other partners, we’ve delivered these colourful and newly refurbished courts for basketball-playing children and young people in Haringey and the wider north London community.

“I know first-hand just how popular these courts in Ducketts Common are and playing on a freshly refurbished surface with new backboards and nets really makes a considerable difference to the enjoyment and experience for our park users.

“It’s fundamentally important for the growth of the sport that children and young people get to play on such top-class facilities. We’ve already seen an increase in the footfall and popularity of the courts since we reopened them and long may that continue!”

Sam Neter, Executive Director at the Hoopsfix Foundation, said

"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."

Basketball England's Interim Facilities Manager, Toby Wilkinson, said:

"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."

Sam Sure, Founder of Half Decent Day, said:

“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.”

As the court opens for community use, the newly transformed space promises to be a vibrant and inclusive hub for the local community.

For updates on Turnpike Lane Basketball Club, please click the link below: 

TPL Basketball Club > 

For more information on our Changing Sports Basketball work, please click the link below:

Changing Sports basketball >