The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing new life to a neighborhood basketball court in Wilmington, Delaware, giving local kids a revamped place to play for years to come.
The Sixers Youth Foundation celebrated the newly renovated court at the park at 30th and Madison streets with a community party, complete with a drum line, DJ and basketball clinics.
It’s the 15th neighborhood basketball court renovated by the foundation, but the first in Delaware, where the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, calls Wilmington home.
For neighbors who watched the transformation unfold over the past several months, the finished product is a welcome improvement.
“It turned out well because it was ugly before it really turned out well,” said Pastor Ronald Hayes, who lives near the park.
“I watched them doing this the last few months and I think it’s awesome,” Hayes said.
Wilmington Mayor John Carney also joined the celebration. Carney said he played basketball at the park while growing up, but the court never looked as good as it does following the Sixers’ renovation.
“Having the Sixers involved? This is awesome particularly this year with the Sixers and LeBron and all it’s really really special,” Carney said.
Children were already putting the renovated court to use during the celebration, while parents and community leaders expressed hope that the space would remain a safe, welcoming place for neighborhood kids.
For the Sixers Youth Foundation, the project is part of a broader commitment to investing in communities throughout the region.
“our impact to us is really important and us being out in the community is very important and for us to be able to give those grant dollars into areas in the region that need it and can utilize it for children? We are gonna do it every day,” said Leslie Walker of the Sixers Youth Foundation.
With the renovation complete, the hope is that the court will continue bringing children and families together long after the celebration ends.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
