Paisley Park in Altona North, Victoria, Australia will become home to a new outdoor Box Lacrosse court - the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The Hobsons Bay City Council facility will be utilised by Altona Lacrosse Club and Newport Ladies Lacrosse Club and will be available for the local community to use when unoccupied by the tenant clubs.
After successfully acquiring funding from the Victorian Government, the Box Lacrosse court built at Paisley Park will feature LED lighting, interchange and officials’ boxes, dasher boards and posts, safety bollards and a shock pad sub-base to improve playability with a synthetic grass surface.
The state-of-the-art court includes multi-purpose functions, with Futsal lines being included to accommodate Futsal practice in future.
The redevelopment of the Box Lacrosse court is welcome news given the original facility was a temporary training court, not attracting or facilitating increased participation to the sport.
Hobsons Bay Mayor Jonathon Marsden notes “the exciting and much anticipated renewal of the Paisley Park Box Lacrosse court will provide great possibilities for the wider lacrosse community, futsal players and sporting fanatics alike.
“The construction of a ‘first in the southern hemisphere’ box lacrosse court will ensure continued growth of a local lacrosse community that is among the strongest in the world.”
Councillor Peter Hemphill added “the late Alan Lewer was a huge advocate for the renewal of the old box lacrosse court in Paisley Park, Altona North. Alan wanted Paisley Park to become the box lacrosse capital of Australia. Although he is not here to see it, I think the works we have done here over this short period of time would have made him proud.
“We have achieved his vision and then some, taking box lacrosse to a brand-new level with a facility that would rival any other community facility within the sporting landscape.”
Councillor Pamela Sutton-Legaud highlighted that “this could not be a better opportunity to advocate for more females to join a sport like lacrosse. Through the state government’s Female Friendly Facilities Fund, together with Council funding, we have produced a high-quality facility that is an encouraging and appealing move to bridge the gender gap in sport.”
After speaking with Adam Basso, the director of Montreal Lacrosse Academy / L’Académie de crosse de Montréal and host of the Montreal Winter Box Classic, he confirmed that the wheels are already in motion for a box tournament on the outdoor surface in Australia. With a unique venue in Australia it will no doubt be similar to the Ales Hrebesky Memorial that takes place annually in Prague, Czech Republic.