The Observation Deck

Is it just me? I noticed that the basketball hoops at Madison Park are gone and the ones at the school lots are gone as well. What are the kids supposed to do to burn off steam?

Beajay Michaud wrote:Is it just me? I noticed that the basketball hoops at Madison Park are gone and the ones at the school lots are gone as well. What are the kids supposed to do to burn off steam?

It is not your imagination.

Not just Lakewood either!



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Can any of the City Officials give a good reason why???

I'm just baffled... We want to kids to stay busy and stay out of trouble.

this has been a issue for the past...3 years?

I think it started at HMMS when they took their hoops down. I think my sophomore year in high school.

It is really sad. What is the reason? Is Lakewood afraid of being sued? Maybe it is because non-white kids may play hoops? Or they are too costly to maintain? If that is the case, I can work buying new hoops into the Kid's Cove project. I personally challenge any mayoral candidate to a game of horse.

Joe Whisman wrote:It is really sad. What is the reason? Is Lakewood afraid of being sued? Maybe it is because non-white kids may play hoops? Or they are too costly to maintain? If that is the case, I can work buying new hoops into the Kid's Cove project. I personally challenge any mayoral candidate to a game of horse.

Joe

I would think it is best to keep Kid's Cove a separate project as you have that moving pretty well right now.

The rumor is because of tagging at Harrison they took them down. I personally find it odd that they take down hoops then tell us there is a problem with curfew. I agree with Beejay, we have to channel kids energies.

As for taking on any mayoral candidate. You might want to be careful. Was at the YMCA with Mayor Tom George. With hard shoes, and his left hand filled he proceeded to make 3 out of 5, all outside the key, one of the two that missed stopped on the back of the rim.

It was pretty impressive.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Joe Whisman wrote:It is really sad. What is the reason? Is Lakewood afraid of being sued? Maybe it is because non-white kids may play hoops? Or they are too costly to maintain?

The rumor is because of tagging at Harrison they took them down. I personally find it odd that they take down hoops then tell us there is a problem with curfew.


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I have a brand new hoop at my house, our yard is too small for the kids to play in. I would be willing to donate it to the city if cost is the issue. I find it hard to believe that removing the hoops will stop kids from tagging. Tagging has always been a problem.

I would support a basketball levy.

I stand by my challenge. I am not afraid to lose. Think of the photo opportunity. If we could get all of the candidates, it would be more fun than a debate! Thanks for the tip, Jim. I will work on my outside shot.

Joe Whisman wrote:I stand by my challenge. I am not afraid to lose. Think of the photo opportunity. If we could get all of the candidates, it would be more fun than a debate! Thanks for the tip, Jim. I will work on my outside shot.

Joe, who is going to supply the hoops.

Beajay Michaud wrote: I have a brand new hoop at my house, our yard is too small for the kids to play in. I would be willing to donate it to the city if cost is the issue. I find it hard to believe that removing the hoops will stop kids from tagging. Tagging has always been a problem.

I have one laying in my garage. One of those things with the base filled with sand. It's going in a garage sale.

Remember in "Hoosiers"? Kids playing in the barnyard, using a bushel basket and a hunk of pylywood? Maybe we could bum a few bushel baskets from the Farmer's market?

Jeff

There is not a public basketball hoop left in the City of Lakewood. It truly is a shame. Where do we go from here? I haven't had much luck. Biggest problem seems to be N.I.M.B.Y.(not in my back yard!)

My two oldest boys drive to Cleveland Hts., North Olmsted, and Westlake, to name just a few cities for courts to play on with all of their other Lakewood friends. They are 06 and 07 LHS graduates who played basketball for LHS. They spent many hours at the courts at Harding. What a shame they won't be replacing those courts. They were filled morning till night with kids and adults of ALL ages.

The removal of the outside courts is hurting the basketball programs at both the middle schools and the high school.

Removing all the courts has sent the message to other cities that Lakewood is no longer safe enough to play outside basketball on city or school board owned courts. This is a fact and what people have said to my kids. People are asking what is going on with Lakewood? Why are there no basketball courts? Drug activity? Crime?

I'm first on board to help lead the way for 'hoops' back in Lakewood!

When the courts were removed at Harding, I had heard that there would be open gym hours at the school for kids. However, I do not know when these hours are or when the open gym is supposed to start.

I was at the LHS gym this afternoon. I spoke to the new boys varsity coach, and he expressed concerns very similar to Stehpanie's. He is a native Lakewoodite who played on these courts as a kid.

so....what is it about basketball? I mean the softball fields are mowed, lined, ready to go. The tennis nets are up. Golf courses in the metroparks are up and running. I think that Winterhurst is hosting figure skating and hockey practices. The pools are staffed, C'mon in the water's fine.

Why is it that this sport and the facilities, are verboten?

Does basketball attract an element that we wish to discourage? Does a basketball court attract kids that are somehow less acceptable than a tennis court? I don't know the rational. Maybe someone on the deck does.

Any ideas?

Jeff