The park next to the Brewer's Bar in Newton Street is chosen as the preferred site for Bay of Plenty Badminton's new 12 court facility.
The councillors' decision was greeted with applause from BOP Badminton supporters at Tuesday's city council strategy and policy committee meeting.

It means BOP Badminton can proceed with fundraising for the $2.3 million facility, which is expected to be operating in 2013.
BOP Badminton has been unable to begin fundraising until they have a site, says organisation president Delwyn Cooper.
"It's a bit catch 22."
The planners chose the Brewer's field ahead of the nearby Tatua Reserve also on Newton Street, because the Tatua Reserve will require more earthworks, which would be an added cost for BOP Badminton.
Building on either reserve will require a public consultation process. Under the reserves' current management plan, no provision is made for buildings, and the plan change requires public consultation.
Councillors objected to handing over public land at a peppercorn rental for a facility that will draw customers away from ratepayer provided facilities.
They also questioned the need for a purpose-built badminton facility when the Tauranga Indoor Sport and Exhibition Centre is expected to draw many indoor sports players away from existing indoor venues, opening the possibility to convert one into a dedicated badminton hall.
But BOP Badminton was commended for undertaking the whole project without council support - apart from the guarantee of the site.
Wayne Moultrie said issues councillors raised about the particular site were covered by the wording of the resolution, that it is an agreement in principle, which doesn't preclude other site options.
The Soper and Tatua Reserves are the survivors of a Mount Maunganui Borough Council policy of requiring industrial developers to provide reserves, ensuring a scattering of green spaces in industrial zoned areas. Other reserves in the former Mount Maunganui commercial zone have since been sold off by Tauranga City Council, with the proceeds going towards the land under the Mount Greens project, Mayor Stuart Crosby told the meeting.