Long before pickleball paddles arrived at Cox Park, the patch of open ground off Richard Street was already being fought for.
During the 1920s, as Lota was being divided into residential estates, local campaigners pushed for part of the suburb to be kept aside for recreation. A proposal was put to BCC to secure about five acres for Manly and Lota, including land along Richard Street, at a time when the district had no recreation ground of its own.
The Land Lota Chose To Keep
The campaign gathered around the Lota Progress Association, with secretary W. Binmore recognising an opportunity when part of an estate was offered for sale. Rather than see the whole parcel broken into residential allotments, efforts were made to preserve a section for recreation. BCC later acquired the land and moved towards dedicating it as a park.
Alfred Edward Cox was already living in the area by the early 1920s. Electoral records place him at 65 Richard Street in 1923 and again in 1925. A family history preserved by South Canterbury Museum says Cox helped obtain land for a park from the developer during the 1920s and that BCC later named Cox Park after him. His family home was said to overlook the grounds.
From Recreation Ground to Football Home
By 1954, Cox Park had become a base for organised sport. Horrie Stephens and Bert Taylor formed the Lota Recreation Club at the park that year, giving children in the area access to organised football. The club operated until 1963, according to a later local history.
Football shared the grounds with other activities. Bayside United’s club history records badminton, table tennis, basketball and fencing among the sports associated with the recreation club, with the football games played on Cox Park under a BCC lease.
The next football chapter began in 1971-72, when Wondall United Soccer Club was formed and games returned to Cox Park. Bayside United Football Club followed in 1974 as player numbers across the bayside district continued to grow. Cox Park remained the club’s home ground until 1984, when Bayside United moved to Don Randall Oval in Lota.
Pickleball Takes The Next Turn
More than 40 years after Bayside United left Cox Park, another sport has brought the ground back into local debate. Plans for four pickleball courts at the southern end of the park drew opposition in 2026, with about 40 people gathering there in July to discuss the proposal. Nearby residents raised concerns about noise, safety, the proximity of the courts to homes and the consultation process.
Some also wanted the existing hardstand retained, saying it was regularly used by children on bikes and scooters. Pickleball players argued the Wynnum-Manly area needed dedicated facilities, with participants otherwise relying on school courts when available. Ms Alex Givney backed the project, saying the ageing court area could be put to greater recreational use.
By 2026, Cox Park was again at the centre of a discussion about recreation in Lota. The argument had changed from whether five acres should be saved for play to what kind of play should occupy them.
Published 29-September-2026