There’s a saying in basketball that “teamwork makes the dream work.”
The spirit of teamwork and cooperation was demonstrated during the April 23 meeting of the Southern Pines Town Council. The Town Council recommended partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills to install a new full-size, regulation basketball court at one of the town parks.
Assistant Town Manager Jessica Roth presented the Town of Southern Pines with a unique and time-sensitive opportunity courtesy of the Boys & Girls Club. If seized, this opportunity could significantly enhance the community’s recreational facilities.
The Boys and Girls Club has an opportunity to secure an estimated $150,000 grant from Nancy Lieberman Charities to install a “Dream Court.” If realized, this court would provide a safe and inclusive space for our youth to engage in healthy physical activity. According to Roth, the Boys and Girls Club needs to have a location identified as they are attending a national meeting in May concerning this grant award, which would fund a regulation-size basketball court for youth.
Video via Nancy Lieberman Charities.
Sandhills Sentinel contacted the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills CEO Steve Kastner about this opportunity and the upcoming national meeting. “2024 is the 25th anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills, and we hope to be able to announce the grant at this national meeting,” said Kastner.
The $150,000 grant would not fund the project’s initial site prep, which is estimated to cost between $25,000 and $30,000 for the necessary concrete, lighting, and irrigation relocation. The local club is responsible for paying those costs and adhering to the project specifications outlined by the grantor. The Town of Southern Pines will incur no costs, and the new regulation-sized basketball court would be considered an asset to the town.
“The 150,000 is an estimated cost for the grant and project, and the Boys and Girls Clubs is still looking for additional funders to contribute. Kastner stated, “The full dollar amount of the project is still unknown.” Individuals interested in donating to this project can contact Kastner at [email protected].
Roth stated in her conversation with Kastner, “This wasn’t a project that we were aware of; we had not budgeted for it. It is not the type of thing that our courts even need work.”
Pool Park in West Southern Pines was discussed as a possible site for the proposed Dream Court. Pool Park has two existing basketball courts, and Roth suggested that one could be retrofitted to a regulation-sized basketball court. Memorial Park was also discussed as a possible option; however, Roth was hesitant to commit to Memorial Park as the upcoming skate park was not yet constructed.
The council members’ discussion of the project was overwhelmingly positive. However, council member Ann Petersen wanted assurances that the West Southern Pines community supports the project. Outreach to the West Southern Pines Group will be part of the process.
Other concerns raised and agreed upon by other council members include understanding the life expectancy of the materials used, costs, and expectations of its eventual replacement. The discussion also raised questions about the town’s liability and insurance.
While no grant award is guaranteed until the check clears, Kastner is confident that the Boy and Girls Club will win this grant. The national meeting of the Boys and Girls Club is May 16 — 17 and takes place in Atlanta.
According to their website, Nancy Lieberman Charities is “dedicated to establishing basketball courts known as “Dream Courts” in multiple cities across the nation. The initiative is centered on democratizing access to basketball for boys and girls, offering them an affordable avenue for recreation, a secure space to engage in play, an opportunity to foster social interactions, and a platform to cultivate essential values of teamwork and sportsmanship.”
Nancy Lieberman is a retired professional basketball player and coach in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and former assistant coach in the NBA. She is a two-time basketball Hall of Famer and founded the charity that bears her name in 2009.
Nancy Lieberman Charities has donated over 125 Dream Courts nationwide. There are just two in North Carolina — the closest being in Charlotte.
Feature photo via Nancy Lieberman Charities.
~ Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Maggie Sergio. A resident of Moore County since 2016, Maggie was one of the first reporters for Sandhills Sentinel. She started covering local stories for Sandhills Sentinel in 2018 and has recently rejoined the reporting staff. Maggie previously contributed to the Huffington Post, covering social and environmental justice issues. Maggie is an accomplished grant writer, having secured funding for several nonprofit organizations.
