Renovation of the Kirkwood Street Basketball Courts is Celebrated by the City and Community
The $51,000 project, which includes new court surfaces, backboards and player benches, also marks the return home of the Eastside SILK Basketball League
A popular City-owned sports and recreational facility in east Wilmington—Kirkwood Park—has received a partial facelift and the community celebrated the achievement today at 11 a.m. when Third District City Council Member Darius Brown hosted an event in his district. At the ceremony, Mayor Dennis P. Williams, staff from the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, City Council President Theo Gregory and community representatives dedicated two, new Kirkwood Park basketball courts.
The new twin basketball courts are part of a series of projects underway in Wilmington to upgrade the City’s athletic and recreational facilities. The refurbished Kirkwood courts include new paved court surfaces, player benches and polycarbonate backboards with rims. The total cost of the project is just over $51,000. Kirkwood Park is located along the Brandywine River on East 11th Street near Governor Printz Boulevard.
“On behalf of the citizens of the 3rd council district, I extend my appreciation to Mayor Williams and James Lane, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department for the Kirkwood Park project as well as the other projects that are underway to improve our City’s outdoor facilities,” said Council Member Brown. “The City continues to step up and provide places where individuals and families can enjoy themselves through recreational activities and events. Brown offered special thanks to Shawn L. Allen, Deputy Parks and Recreation Director, for helping him to champion the Kirkwood Park project.
The event also marks the return home for the 300-member SILK Basketball League which was formed in 2011 in east Wilmington to honor former neighborhood player Terry “Silk” Alls who died in a motor vehicle accident in 2003. Alls was known for his mentoring work with children and young adults in the community. For the past several years, the league was forced to move to other area basketball courts to stage its games because of the deteriorated condition of the court at Kirkwood Park and because a second basketball court at Kirkwood was converted to a tennis court. Jaron “Droop” Johnson, who organizes the league, said it is good to bring the league back to the east Wilmington basketball court where it began and still serves as an important recreational outlet for children and young adults throughout the City.
Information about the SILK Basketball League as provided by organizer Jaron “Droop” Johnson:
The Silk League started in spring of 2011 as a way for my friends and me to give back to the community in honor of our best friend Terry “Silk” Alls who passed away in 2003. The purpose of the league is to combine positive mentors with children from the city and county from not just “at risk” areas but all areas through basketball, which was Terry’s favorite sport as well as community service. The league also introduces children ages 5 -15 to one another from different facets of life and from across the city and county who may not have had a chance to get to know each other without the league. Since the league’s inception we have had zero negative incidents. Each year we strive to get better and introduce kids to other aspects that may not be available elsewhere. It is our future goal to provide SAT prep, study groups, and college tours among other things to show the children that sports doesn’t have to be the only way to make it in life and show the value in education and accountability which we stress. When the season is over for the summer this isn’t where we stop, we maintain relationships with our kids that go beyond the basketball court. Our coaches have been to schools, parent teacher conferences, chaperones on trips, and serve as great role models. Even though we are 6 years into our journey we are still young and evolving and the best is yet to come!
For more information about this news release, contact:
John Rago
Communications and Policy Development Director
Wilmington City Council
Phone: (302) 576-2149
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov