Cannonball is about to get a brand new court.
After fundraising money, and supplies to fix up a more than 40-year-old basketball court some good samaritans are putting the finishing touches on the playground.
Cannonball is squaring up their shot paving the way for something new.
“We’re rebuilding the basketball court. If you’d seen the first one it needed to be fixed,” Kainon Ayutapi, summer youth worker says.
After 40 years, they’re giving their old court a makeover, ripping up the cracked pavement and laying down brand new concrete.
A local construction company, Ideal Construction & Contracting (ICC), as well as some local kids all pitched in to help.
“I see people all the time playing basketball. When we have this one done I can see a lot of people playing on this one,” Zyaeria Johnson, summer youth worker says.
Dakota Eagle has been organizing the push to raise money for the new court.
Over the past 20 years, she says she’s seen the need for more places for kids to play in their own community grow.
“There’s a major need here for more facilities for the youth,” Dakota Eagle, Youth Sports Complex organizer says.”That was one of the needs that I had growing up.”
In the past, with a run-down court, local kids often had to go out of town to practice.
“The youth are very important, they have a lot of potential, and I think if we provide venues for them to get involved in the community they will have endless possibilities,” Eagle says.
Eagle says the court’s effect on the community doesn’t stop with the kids.
“It promotes a healthy lifestyle; it gives them something to do. It promotes community involvement and it’s a positive step for the community to take for the youth,” Eagle says.
For kids like Zyaeria Johnson, a place to play basketball is just the beginning.
“It doesn’t only have to be about basketball, people come down here just to chill out and watch people play basketball,” Johnson says.
In the hopes of bringing people together.
Dakota Eagle hopes the project won’t stop with the basketball court.
Funds are still being raised to expand the complex to include a softball field, a recreation area and possible playground.
Materials, money, and labor are all still needed for the expansion.
If anyone wishes to donate they can go to the go fund me page here to donate or to reach out to find more ways you can help.
