Park gets $250k backing

Higgins CEO David Geor (left), Higgins Hawke's Bay manager Joe Tobeck, Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park CEO Jock Mackintosh and marketing director Julie Greene. Photo / Duncan Brown

A major sponsorship commitment will keep the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park maintained and boost its coffers.

Roading and infrastructure company Higgins yesterday announced it would provide $50,000 for each of the next five years - making a total commitment of $250,000.

The new Sports Park chairman, Rex Graham, said Higgins had been a long-term supporter of the complex.

"Higgins has backed us from day one, including during the global financial crisis when funding was hard to come by. The park wouldn't exist in the form that it does without their support."

Higgins chief executive David Geor said the company liked what the park stood for and was happy to continue its support.

"As a company, we embrace family values and the Sports Park had 250,000 people using the facilities last year - most of them were kids playing sport, supported by their parents. It's a vibrant place and we are very pleased to have played our part."

Sponsorship support is an important factor in keeping the cost to use the facilities at an affordable level.

Sports Park chief executive Jock Mackintosh said: "Cost is a barrier to partaking in sport so we need to keep fees low. We can only achieve this with financial support from sponsors like Higgins."

Mr Mackintosh said the funding was important for general operations at the park.

"The existing facilities were completed back in 2011 and we are now starting to run into repairs and maintenance-type expenditure, so it's important we can do this work before it becomes a real issue."