Crumbling BK basketball court ‘overdue for an upgrade’ gets NY Liberty-themed makeover after championship win

The New York Liberty isn’t done coating nan municipality seafoam greenish conscionable yet.

The newly-minted WNBA champs’ location borough of Brooklyn received a much-needed upgrade to a delipidated hoops tribunal successful East New York past month, each acknowledgment to an assistance from nan team’s co-owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai.

“By upgrading nan hoops courts present astatine Breukelen Ballfields, we’re ensuring that New Yorkers of each ages, and peculiarly young people, person an engaging abstraction to link pinch their neighbors and person immoderate safe fun,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said successful a statement.

The renewal is portion of a $1.8 cardinal finance from nan Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation’s Social Justice Fund, which intends to revamp recreation spaces successful neighborhoods pinch precocious rates of weapon violence.

The money has already transformed 3 different parks successful Brooklyn, including nan Jackie Robinson Playground successful Crown Heights, Fox Playground successful Flatlands and Sunset Park.

The NYPD’s 75th precinct, which encompasses East New York and Cypress Hills, has seen a 2.3% summation successful shooting incidents year-over-year, compared to a 2% driblet citywide during nan aforesaid clip period. To date, nan Brooklyn precinct has reported 45 shootings successful 2024. 

“I’m truthful grateful to our partners astatine nan Social Justice Fund, nan Nets, and nan Liberty for making this renewal possible, and for their finance of almost $2 cardinal to upgrade hoops courts passim Brooklyn, focusing connected neighborhoods pinch acute levels of weapon violence,” Donoghue said.

The 16-acre parkland was “overdue for an upgrade,” according to respective Google Reviews of nan greenspace.

“Very soiled … garbage each around,” 1 reviewer wrote. 

“Dusty area pinch debased lighting,” different added. 

The parkland received different upgrades earlier this year, including a caller turf field, an asphalt play space, a caller stepping way and more, per nan Brooklyn Eagle. A afloat renewal of playground instrumentality is forthcoming.

Through nan city’s Adopt-a-Park program, nan East New York courts now characteristic a repaved aboveground complete pinch nan New York Liberty’s infamous seagreen colour arsenic good arsenic caller lines, caller drainage to forestall flooding, a caller hoops stanchion pinch lexan backboards and caller hoops pinch nets.

New fences, benches, an accessible bottle-filling position and a three-tier bleachers for spectators were besides added to nan court, according to a Parks rep.

The Liberty’s owners besides ain nan Brooklyn Nets — which touts its ain logo alongside nan Liberty’s astatine nan upgraded Breukelen Ballfields court.

Students from adjacent Fresh Creek School P.S. 325, and their main Jesse Fields, joined NYC Parks officials for nan unveiling past week.

“Athletics tin toggle shape some nan assemblage and tone and build affirmative habits and lifelong friendships – that’s why we are truthful committed to establishing a community-first hoops acquisition crossed nan borough,” Wu Tsai said successful a statement.

“From clinics successful our section schools to refurbishing courts successful our playgrounds and parks, we are committed to fostering an situation that inspires and connects Brooklynites to 1 another.”