Three newly refurbished basketball courts at Fish Playground in Brooklyn were unveiled on Monday, made possible by a donation from New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai’s Social Justice Fund in partnership with NYC Parks. A youth basketball clinic was held to celebrate the renovated courts.
Gregg Bishop, executive director of the Social Justice Fund, expressed his joy at the transformation, stating that the project signifies to the youth that "you belong here, and you deserve excellence and the best." He noted that the renovated courts represent a commitment to community investment.
Previously, the courts were in disrepair, with a slanted foundation, cracked concrete due to tree roots, and askew backboards and rims. The refurbishment included repaving the courts with new finishes, installing six new backboards with nets, wooden benches for spectators, a new water fountain, and a refurbished chain-link fence.
Tsai, who could not attend the event, said in a statement that public basketball courts serve as a "cornerstone of community gathering and connection" and that "every pick-up game and every youth league brings our borough closer together."
The project is part of a larger $2.89 million investment by the Social Justice Fund to upgrade 13 basketball courts across five Brooklyn parks. Bishop added that the fund aims to be a catalyst for further investment in these communities, having already helped secure approximately $10 million in additional funding for parks where they have invested.