In the early 1950s the State Lands Department had a policy of handing over portions of Crown Land to communities for recreational purposes. Forster was allocated several acres in Lake Street and the Lands Department nominated two portions to be developed for tennis and croquet. The local Croquet Club was without a court at this time since the private land they had developed had been sold and there were three private tennis courts in town. A Community Trust Committee was set up including many residents, one of whom was Jack Townsend, a local Earthmoving Contractor.