Former SA Bridgestone factory site to become athletics facility

Bridgestone is turning its former manufacturing site into a new athletics facility. The site in South Australia is currently known as Bridgestone Reserve. 

Construction is now officially underway of a 400 metre state-of-the-art track, which overall equates to a $5.3 million-dollar facility. The 6.8-heactare site was originally donated to the City of Salisbury after the Bridgestone factory closed in 2010. In 2017 it was transformed into a community space.

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director Stephen Roche joined City of Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM, Little Athletics SA CEO Sue Bowman and Athletics SA CEO Shane Fuller to celebrate the occasion. 

Stephen Roche, said, “Bridgestone’s vision for this site was for it to be a welcoming environment and regularly utilised by the community, and since the opening of Bridgestone Reserve it has done just that,”

“To see Bridgestone Reserve, receive such a significant upgrade highlights how important this space is for the community, and fills us with pride to have made such a meaningful contribution.”

The significant gesture follows the theme and desire of Bridgestone’s founder, who sort to benefit society via the provision of sporting facilities for the community around Bridgestone’s original factory in Japan. 

Don’t be surprised if the international grade track surface itself is made from recycled tyres, such is Bridgestone’s ongoing commitment to addressing environmental issues. Also given the global giant is also a major Olympic partner for the 2020 Tokyo games, I reckon you could connect the dots when it comes to naming rights for the venue, but that’s just a wild guess!