AFTER two years of planning, Victoria Park will finally, on Sunday, unlock the gates to the two brand new basketball courts.

The public will be able to shoot some hoops for the first time this Bank Holiday Sunday as part of the Malvern Mayor’s Bank Holiday Bonanza being held at Victoria Park.

The fun-filled day begins at 11am and will run until 5pm, featuring live music, street entertainment, mini funfair rides, traditional fete games and a mini-food market.

Usually held in Priory Park, the Mayor’s Bonanza has been moved to Victoria Park this year to celebrate the opening of the new basketball courts, which is the first stage of the revitalization of the park in Malvern Link.

Malvern Mayor Nick Houghton will officiate at the opening ceremony at 12 noon, after which there will be an afternoon of basketball coaching sessions, shooting competitions and 3v3 tournaments organized by local basketball clubs Malvern Mavericks and Worcester Wolves Academy.

It has been a long five years of work by local basketball enthusiasts Jon May and Tom Bennett to get to this point, and now, in collaboration with Malvern Town Council, the two new state-of-the-art courts will be the best outdoor community basketball courts in the UK.

The courts are full-sized and “NBA approved”and fully wheelchair accessible.

They have a Flexcourt surface which drains well, minimising the amount of the damage done by weathering and playing time lost to rain and frosty conditions.

So bring your basketball along to Victoria Park on Sunday and join in the fun.