The NYCHA Journal

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Stapleton basketball court ribbon cutting
Connected Communities Top Story Youth 

Upgraded Basketball Court Debuts at Stapleton Houses

Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA’s summer celebration of basketball extended to Staten Island on August 26, when Stapleton Houses welcomed its own newly refurbished basketball court.  

NYCHA Chair Greg Russ joined residents and community groups for the court opening festivities, which included a ribbon cutting and backpack giveaway. Among the community partners who helped make the improvements possible were the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), True 2 Life, the Gerard Carter Center and Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, Center for Court Innovation, and the NYPD’s 120th Precinct.  

The new recreation space and others that have recently opened across NYCHA are celebrated for providing opportunities for youth to stay active and safe during the warmer months.  

“As we continue to fight the pandemic, it’s especially important that we provide safe, inspiring places like this where our youth can play, shine, and grow, and where they can just be together,” Chair Russ said. “We’re talking about more than just a game – we’re talking about a safe space where our youth can build life skills and develop together.”  

The Stapleton Houses court upgrades were designed with input from residents and funded by MOCJ. The project is in addition to 14 other basketball court renovation sites that are opening across NYCHA this year thanks to funding from the NYPD through asset forfeiture revenue provided by the District Attorney of New York.