By Sadie Hunter
In preparation of the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville’s future construction project, the City of Noblesville has ended its lease for the space used to host the Conner Basketball Courts at Conner and 17th Streets.
The Noblesville Parks Department will begin removing the rims and backboards at Conner Courts as early as Nov. 8 and 9 for the entire goals and courts to be removed.
“We wanted to provide the public one more weekend of access before the equipment is taken down,” said Brandon Bennett, Noblesville Parks and Recreation director, in a press release. “The courts have been a great asset to the community, and we will miss them; however, the opportunity for the Boys & Girls Club to be able to build a new facility that will serve more kids in our community is an even greater asset to Noblesville.”
The city has managed the courts under a license agreement to continue operating the courts since the Boys & Girls Club purchased the land in 2015 for the location of the construction of a new facility. The organization anticipates breaking ground on the new club in the spring, and city officials said with the change in weather conditions and preparation work that needs to be done, a joint decision was made per the agreement to remove the basketball courts at this time.
“Fundraising efforts continue for our Build & Grow Capital Campaign, and we are optimistic that we will reach our goal of $6 million by the end of 2016,” Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville Executive Director Becky Terry stated in a press release. “Our goal is to build a new facility at 1700 Conner Street that will have the capacity to serve more youth and to provide additional programs and activities beyond what we are currently able to offer. Unfortunately, the most efficient design has our stormwater retention area overlapping with the existing outdoor courts.”
With the city lease ending, the land is now private property.
