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Politics & Government

Outdoor Basketball May Find New Home at Lakewood Park

The Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee – along with Mayor Mike Summers – is discussing raising anywhere from $17,000 to $25,000 to build a new court at Lakewood's waterfront park.

The Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee met with Mayor Mike Summers last week to discuss expanding the program and constructing a new court at  

“There’s a couple things we needed to do to gain a better understanding of the cost of the court and then start getting engaged in some fundraising efforts, as well as communicate with the stakeholders on that park on what we’d like to do there,” Summers said. 

The mayor said a new concrete court, two hoops and a 12-foot-high chain-link fence would cost anywhere from $17,000 to $25,000, and that the LOBC would like to see construction begin by next April or May. 

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LOBC co-founder Art Gold was excited about the prospect of expanding to Lakewood’s waterfront park and is eager to see even more courts spring up around the city. 

“These kids need something to do, and there’s not too much (the city) can offer…We need to expand and continue expanding to give kids more opportunities to play basketball in Lakewood,” he said. 

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Regarding the location, Summers said that several surveillance cameras will soon go up around the park and that a noise reducing apron will most likely be hung by the end of this week to offer some relief to the nearby residents. 

“I think it’s been a great program for the kids,” Gold said. “I think the problems are very overstated. We haven’t seen (the problems) nor have the police. But we do agree it is noisy. You have two courts for 30 kids and it does bring more kids into the park.” 

The courts will now also be closed on Saturdays and its Sunday operating hours will be limited.

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