zadar now has a renovated basketball court open in Kapetanski Park, with the project presented as a new public space for sport, recreation and community gatherings in the city center. The opening marked the end of a major revitalisation project inside the Citadel area of the UNESCO-listed historic peninsula.
The court was designed by American artist Shelton Hawkins, who is known for basketball court concepts inspired by LeBron James and Michael Jordan. City officials said the renovation is the first phase of a broader redevelopment of Kapetanski Park.
City of Zadar partnership
The City of Zadar and the Sunset Sports Festival delivered the project together. The opening took place ahead of the festival’s fifth edition, which was held in Zadar from 4 to 6 June.
The ceremony brought together local residents, athletes and public figures. It also included music performances, dance showcases and youth basketball games, turning the court into a venue for more than one kind of use on the same day it opened.
Kapetanski Park redevelopment
City officials described the renovation as the first phase of a broader plan for Kapetanski Park. That wider redevelopment is meant to create a multifunctional space for sports, cultural events and youth engagement in the city centre.
The site’s location inside the Citadel area gives the project a place in one of the city’s most visible public spaces. The opening now gives residents a court that is ready for play while the rest of the park plan moves forward.
Sunset Sports Festival in Zadar
Alessandro Del Piero took part in panels and discussions on the future of sport during the fifth edition of the Sunset Sports Festival. His appearance placed the court opening alongside a broader public programme built around sport and community activity.
For people in Zadar who use the park, the immediate change is simple: a renovated court is open now, and the first phase of the park’s redevelopment has already begun shaping what the area can host next.
