After years of training under inadequate conditions, young basketball enthusiasts in St David, Grenada, are witnessing a transformative development in their sporting landscape. The historic Riverbank grounds, once characterized by insufficient lighting and subpar facilities, are now the focal point of an ambitious multi-phase redevelopment initiative officially launched last Sunday.
Spearheaded by the St David Basketball League in collaboration with the St David Parish Sports Council and the Grenada National Basketball Association, the Riverbank Basketball Development Project represents a comprehensive approach to sports infrastructure enhancement. Interim President Brian James highlighted the parish’s longstanding basketball competitiveness despite the absence of formal league structures, which previously forced athletes to seek training opportunities elsewhere under challenging circumstances.
The project, scheduled for completion by September 2026, encompasses seven distinct phases featuring substantial infrastructure upgrades. These include complete court resurfacing, installation of new backboards, enhanced lighting systems, spectator seating for approximately 150 people, modernized washroom facilities, and a multifunctional community space accommodating media requirements.
Beyond physical improvements, the initiative emphasizes human capital development through structured training programs for local coaches, referee certification courses, and equipment provision for grassroots basketball programs. Extensive community consultations with residents, youth representatives, and business stakeholders have ensured the project aligns with local needs and aspirations.
Significant preparatory work has already been completed, including major cleanup operations supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Solid Waste Management Authority, which removed derelict vehicles and cleared the site for construction.
Senator Seville Francis, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, endorsed the project as exemplary of community-driven initiatives aligning with national development priorities. She emphasized sports’ proven effectiveness in building discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience among youth, noting that many national leaders began their journeys on community courts similar to Riverbank.
The project aligns with the ministry’s 2023-2027 strategic mandate focusing on youth mobilization, training, activation, and opportunity creation. Senator Francis highlighted how deliberate investment and collaboration between government agencies, parish councils, and community leaders can generate substantial long-term social benefits.
Justin Courtney, Chairperson of the St David Parish Sports Council, recognized Riverbank’s historical significance as a breeding ground for national cricket talent and expressed confidence that the renewed basketball focus would yield comparable success. The initiative has received endorsement from Patrick Simmons, Chairperson of the Grenada National Sports Council, who views it as a developmental model for other parishes and sporting disciplines nationwide.
As approval processes and procurement activities advance, organizers anticipate Riverbank’s emergence as a modern sporting hub that honors its historical legacy while shaping a new future for basketball and community sports in St David. The project is expected to strengthen youth development pathways, promote healthier lifestyles, enhance community engagement, and reinforce sports’ role as a vital tool for national development.