A free, on-demand, sports equipment vending machine is being trialled in two council parks in south-east Queensland.
Redland City Council Major Jos Mitchell said Council had signed an agreement with SportsBox, equipped by Decathlon, to trial their sports equipment lockers for 12 months.
Mayor Mitchell said the initiative, which provided the community with free, on-demand access to sports equipment, would hopefully encourage increased participation in outdoor play.
“We know our city loves sport, so trialling this initiative was a natural fit for our parks,” she said.
“While we already have a range of sport facilities available in our public spaces, the SportsBox equipment will add another exciting dimension to outdoor play.
“The trial allows the community to hire a range of sports equipment such as footballs and basketballs for free from a self-serve locker.”
Mayor Mitchell said users could download the SportsBox smartphone app and scan the QR code located on each locker to access the equipment on-demand at any time during park opening hours.
Sport and Recreation Portfolio representative Cr Jason Colley said the lockers had been installed at Beth Boyd Park and Raby Esplanade Park as these locations had courts and kick-about areas where the equipment could be used.
“Free equipment hire will help to encourage participation in outdoor play and create more opportunities for residents to exercise close to home,” Cr Cooley said.
Decathlon Australia CEO Danny Sekulich said SportsBox was like a vending machine filled with free sports gear.
“Our research found 73 per cent of Aussies say cost stops them from being active, so we’re proud to partner with Redland City Council and SportsBox to help locals get outside and play,” Mr Sekulich said.
“This initiative perfectly captures what Decathlon is all about – breaking down cost barriers so everyone can enjoy the benefits of sport.”
The Beth Boyd Park locker has equipment for basketball, volleyball and soccer, while the Raby Esplanade Park locker has equipment for soccer, table tennis and basketball.
