Community basketball courts now open

City officials, locals celebrate opening of public basketball courts born from residents’ drive

What began as a resident-driven idea to provide more activities for Euclid’s youth several years ago has become a reality with the grand opening of two fullsize outdoor basketball courts next to Bluestone Elementary School.

City leaders and community members gathered together outside the school, located at 1455 East 260th St., to hold the official ribbon-cutting for the courts on July 21.

The sunny afternoon served as an ideal chance for the basketball enthusiasts in attendance to break in the courts with some dunk competitions.

Albert Hardin, a Euclid resident for over a decade, has been championing the project since it was conceptualized back in 2018. Hardin recalled growing up in a neighborhood that could sometimes be on the rougher side, but through the kindness of one of his neighbors, Hardin and his friends were allowed to utilize a backyard basketball court for a fun outlet.

Hardin said he wanted to help do the same thing for the youth in the Euclid community.

“These kids out here right now, they’re not just playing basketball — they’re playing on a vision,” he said.

He said the “vision” was initially much more limited — only one small basketball court on Shirley Avenue — but through the involvement of an entire team of residents and city department heads, it grew into what it is today.

Hardin credited the efforts of Euclid Recreation Director Mac Stephens, Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, former councilwoman and resident Taneika Hill, current Ward 3 Councilman Marcus Epps, Planning and Development Director Allison Lukacsy-Love and several others.

However, Hardin explained he wants the new courts to be used for a bigger purpose than just shooting hoops.

“We want to take it a step further, every month, at least once a month, what I want to do is competitions like this (dunking competition),” Hardin said. “We’ll come out and have the kids learn something, have speakers come out and talk to the kids, using the courts as a conduit to do something great for the community. That’s where the vision came from.”

Hill, who served as the prior council member for Ward 3 where Bluestone Elementary is located, said the idea for two courts instead of just one was prompted by Stephens, the recreation director, who wanted to ensure both younger children and teenagers or adults could play at the same time.

“The purpose was to make sure that everyone was accommodated and had something to do,” Hill said.

Through all of the team’s planning, she explained, the courts have grown to have a lot of potential. Hill said that even Imani United Church of Christ, a next door neighbor to the courts, got involved and may begin to do some after-school programming in the future.

PHOTOS BY SHEENA HOLLAND DOLAN — THE NEWS-HERALD Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail (middle) and Euclid resident Albert Hardin (middle with scissors) cut the grand opening ribbon on the new Bluestone basketball courts, joined by some other members of the team who made the vision a reality.

Euclid’s Recreation Director Mac Stephens (far right) plays basketball with some neighborhood children at the Bluestone basketball courts’ grand opening celebration.