$500k injection for sports park | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Roading and infrastructure company Higgins has chipped in $500,000 to be the latest sponsorship signing for the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.

The sponsorship was announced at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings by Hawke's Bay Sports Park Trust chairman, and Hastings Mayor, Lawrence Yule last night.

Mr Yule said the money was a cash grant for the park to use for development. But as part of the sponsorship, the well-known Hawke's Bay firm would have the naming rights to "Higgins Boulevard", which will be a main road at the complex.

He said it was intended Higgins would be forming the roads, carparks and netball courts as part of the next stage of development. Higgins had worked on the all-weather athletics track at the park a few years ago.

"Half a million is a substantial sum and a very strong endorsement of Higgins' commitment to Hawke's Bay. They [Higgins] did an outstanding job in laying the athletics track, so we are pleased they are going to be involved with other stages of the park's development," Mr Yule said.

Higgins Group managing director Bernard Higgins was at the announcement on Thursday night and said it was a chance to put something back into Hawke's Bay.

"We're making a substantial contribution because we want to demonstrate our commitment to the region and also recognise that Hawke's Bay has been good to us," he said. "Much of our work involves building community infrastructure and we inevitably build strong bonds with the communities as a result.

"I can see that thousands are going to be using the park every week so it's very satisfying to be part of its development, and it fits well with our company philosophy," he said.

The 2500-seat grandstand around the park's athletics track is expected to open in July. The 18 netball courts and seven football fields will be the next to be rolled out. The netball courts are due to open in June while the football fields will be ready towards the end of 2010.