Whangarei gymnasts have extra spring in their somersaults this week, training for the first time in the new gymnastics and athletics facility at Kensington Park.
The ASB Sports Arena houses the Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics (WAGS) and Athletics Whangarei, which has already been making use of the outdoor athletics track.
WAGS coach Vicki McDonald said her gymnasts began moving in from their previous Kamo premises last week and were enjoying the new space.
Ms McDonald said the new central premises meant they could offer more gymnastics classes, as it frees up more room and equipment in the busy after-school period of 3.30-7pm.
The building includes facilities for both athletics and gymnastics, including a 500-seat grandstand overlooking the finish line of the athletics track, a multi-purpose lounge facility, and a results and administration office.
The gymnastics part of the facility includes a purpose-built 1700sq m gymnastics stadium, spectator seating overlooking the gymnastics floor, toilets and a gymnastics administration office.
Common facilities include changing rooms, canteen, interior storage room, first aid room and cleaning storage room.
The development, which began late last year, also involved re-aligning Park Ave and constructing a new carpark that will both service the facility and provide much-needed extra parking at Kensington during the winter sports season.
Northland Athletics and Gymnastics Stadium Trust chair Murray Lints said the board was delighted the new facility was open for business.
"The construction of this facility has been a vision of the trust for over 10 years, and to now see it complete is a fantastic feeling for all involved," he said.
Although open for use, the facility is still not fully operational. A shortfall in funding has resulted in the upstairs toilets not being fitted out and the balcony overlooking the gymnastics stadium could not be used.