SPORT AND RECREATION
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war, playgrounds were few; after the war, possible sites were dusty, uneven pieces of land which soon became occupied by squatters. Despite these difficulties old playgrounds have been improved and new ones laid out and, in addition to the large parks and formal playgrounds, a great deal has been done to improve the appearance of the city by tidying up small derelict roadside areas and, where possible, turfing and planting them with shrubs and trees. The Urban Services Department looks after parks, playgrounds and rest gardens with a total area of 434.66 acres, two swimming pools and 30 public bathing beaches.
In the urban areas there are now 103 parks and playgrounds and 28 amenity plots, totalling 263.51 acres. Besides Victoria Park, the Botanic Gardens and several other parks, these areas provide a variety of recreational facilities, including 13 pitches for soccer, hockey and rugby football, 30 mini-soccer pitches, 86 courts for basketball/volleyball and badminton, 14 tennis courts, two squash courts, two running tracks, 50 children's playgrounds, five children's libraries, model-boat pools, a roller-skating rink and bandstands.
Many new amenity projects were completed in the urban area in 1963. At Kowloon Tsai Park, which is still under construction, a new swimming pool was completed to Olympic standards. The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club donated $2 million towards the cost of the pool. It will be opened for public use in 1964 when the water supply situation permits. At Kai Tak West a new play- ground of five acres was completed. This contains a floodlit mini- soccer pitch, five small games courts, changing facilities and a children's playground and library. Five playgrounds containing 13 small games courts and four children's play-areas were completed at Kwun Tong resettlement estate. New playgrounds were also completed at Oxford Road, Sung Wong Toi and Kent Road, while at Boundary Street Sports Ground a new spectator stand and changing facilities were built. At Victoria Park a new floodlit exhibition tennis court was officially opened.
A number of projects are still under construction, of which Kowloon Tsai Park is the largest. When completed this park will cover an area of almost 40 acres and will include a running track and athletic field, two full size soccer pitches and four smaller soccer pitches, courts for badminton, basketball, volleyball, 10 hard tennis courts, separate children's play-area and a library.