Basketball Court in Maplecrest Park

Now that the Planning Committee has passed the proposal to put a basketball court back in Maplecrest Park, I am wondering how the residents feel about that. 

As one who frequently played on the old court and who intends to play on the new court, I vote yes.  It was then and it can again become a great asset for the park and the community.  The likely misguided motivations for its removal were race and fear.  We are bigger than that now.

it'll be a 'great asset' for several communities.

Robert_Casotto said:

it'll be a 'great asset' for several communities.

So what.  

Our parks need basketball courts.  It provides a healthy opportunity for children and adults to engAge in healthy sports and learn how to play with (and against) others in a healthy and competitive way.    

And I agree that any plans to remove courts were likely race motivated.   

I don't hear others complaining about out of towners using our reservation, parks, tennis courts, etc   Why basketball courts?  

Robert_Casotto said:

it'll be a 'great asset' for several communities.

ever take your family or yourself to a park in another community?

there's a basketball court in Memorial Park.  I'm not aware of any problems that are caused by its existence.

ml1 said:

there's a basketball court in Memorial Park.  I'm not aware of any problems that are caused by its existence.

Ive seen some bruise egos and pulled muscles from middle aged guys who really cant play as well any longer, which I suppose is a problem for some.

I don't like to toss the "r word" around indiscriminately, but it's hard to see a factor besides race that causes people to oppose the construction of basketball courts.

We are a basketball family and live near the park. I am not crazy about it. Memorial Park courts are dominated by adults all the time. There are often plastic bottles full of pee and a lot of bad language with small kids around. If it can be properly managed it would be a great thing - similar to the Baird. But, I don't see how it can be properly managed in a public park.

Basketball courts have been managed in public parks since there were basketball courts and public parks. Where else would you built a court?

The one at the Baird seems to have become a real asset, but with active management.  Before that, it was becoming a victim of its own success (well chronicled in some old MOL threads, I think)

cleg said:

We are a basketball family and live near the park. I am not crazy about it. Memorial Park courts are dominated by adults all the time. There are often plastic bottles full of pee and a lot of bad language with small kids around. If it can be properly managed it would be a great thing - similar to the Baird. But, I don't see how it can be properly managed in a public park.

"Make Maplecrest Park Great Again!"

Sorry, couldn't resist!   

paulsurovell said:

As one who frequently played on the old court and who intends to play on the new court, I vote yes.  It was then and it can again become a great asset for the park and the community.  The likely misguided motivations for its removal were race and fear.  We are bigger than that now.

The "old threads" about the courts at Baird Center were nonsense. There was one unfortunate incident at the courts (involving a pistol whipping, I believe) that was turned into a trend by people who should have known better. The behavior at the Baird Center courts has always been better than the behavior of parents at most youth sporting events.

k

Couple of concerns ... Not sure about the aesthetics of it. Maybe I'm just having a hard time visualizing it ... I also have concerns about the proximity to the playground and kids being exposed to the seven words you can't say on TV before their seven ... 

I would worry more about kids under 7 being exposed the language of their parents while attending sporting events of their older siblings.

hankzona said:

ml1 said:

there's a basketball court in Memorial Park.  I'm not aware of any problems that are caused by its existence.

Ive seen some bruise egos and pulled muscles from middle aged guys who really cant play as well any longer, which I suppose is a problem for some.

I'll be at least 70 when the court is finished and plan to do an hour of stretching before I go out. Not sure how far out I can hit a jump shot from anymore (or whether I can jump at all), so I may have to rely on a two-handed set shot   

ml1 said:

I don't like to toss the "r word" around indiscriminately, but it's hard to see a factor besides race that causes people to oppose the construction of basketball courts.

spending that money to improve the existing baseball fields, tennis courts, playground and grass, for one.

South Orange Rec has to pay the Y to supervise their basketball court.  Perhaps we should consult with them before building a court next to a playground in Maplecrest.

https://youtu.be/LI_Oe-jtgdI

jeffl said:

South Orange Rec has to pay the Y to supervise their basketball court.  Perhaps we should consult with them before building a court next to a playground in Maplecrest.

Not true. The courts are unsupervised most of the time. 

Robert_Casotto said:

ml1 said:

I don't like to toss the "r word" around indiscriminately, but it's hard to see a factor besides race that causes people to oppose the construction of basketball courts.

spending that money to improve the existing baseball fields, tennis courts, playground and grass, for one.

fair enough.  but won't better baseball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds and grass also be "great assets" for several communities?

Robert_Casotto said:

it'll be a 'great asset' for several communities.

True!  I live in Maplewood but often walk to South Orange for the playground at Cameron Field.  I also drive to Taylor Park in Millburn a lot.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who enjoys parks and facilities in other towns.

But they do pay to have them supervised some of the week.  Shouldn't someone ask why?  I don't know the answer but it seems like an obvious question if we're considering building courts in Maplecrest.

Roland said:

jeffl said:

South Orange Rec has to pay the Y to supervise their basketball court.  Perhaps we should consult with them before building a court next to a playground in Maplecrest.

Not true. The courts are unsupervised most of the time. 

First, you call it supervision. I call it programming. It's kids learning how to play basketball.

Second, it is partly an unfortunate over-reaction to the pistol whip. But empirically, you can't find evidence that the Baird courts are dangerous or even threatening. 

Who is "you"?  Me?  I don't even know what you're talking about but feel free to carry on  with your battle.  Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find someone else to fight with.   In the words of Ken P, "I'm outa here!"

Roland said:

First, you call it monitoring. I call it programming. It's kids learning how to play basketball.

Second, it is partly an unfortunate over-reaction to the pistol whip. But empirically, you can't find evidence that the Baird courts are dangerous or even threatening. 

I always think more basketball courts are better for the community.   

jeffl said:

Who is "you"?  Me?  I don't even know what you're talking about but feel free to carry on  with your battle.  Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find someone else to fight with.   In the words of Ken P, "I'm outa here!"

Roland said:

First, you call it monitoring. I call it programming. It's kids learning how to play basketball.

Second, it is partly an unfortunate over-reaction to the pistol whip. But empirically, you can't find evidence that the Baird courts are dangerous or even threatening. 

I am not fighting. But I know the history of the Baird Center courts, and it gets mistakenly recounted in threads like this.

hoops said:

I always think more basketball courts are better for the community.   

With a handle like yours, you'd better.

Roland said:

I am not fighting. But I know the history of the Baird Center courts, and it gets mistakenly recounted in threads like this.

As an interested reader, I appreciate the information and context you've provided. Thanks.

As another interested reader, I would counsel you not to take at face value the thoughts of someone who has posted fewer than 10 times, all to support basketball, and who dismisses a pistol whipping as an "unfortunate incident" to which we "are overreacting".  It is not clear to me that Roland is the last word on this history.

http://patch.com/new-jersey/southorange/arrests-made-in-basketball-court-pistol-whipping

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/cameras_monitor_south_orange_b.html

There were problems with large crowds, fights, and monopolization of the Baird court which led the Village to invest in monitoring cameras and some supervision.  

I support modest investments in these things, rather than risking a valuable sports resource, but I think that the Baird example may be useful to Maplewood as it thinks about how to support the wonderful sport of basketball in its own parks.

Thanks for the advice, and I'll keep it in mind. My appreciation for Roland's input stands.

ETA: Not that a tally of contributions makes any difference to me, but I thought "Roland" sounded more familiar than a mere <10 posts would have suggested. Looks like there are pages and pages in the archives, from basketball to Lou Reed to Peru. Call me jealous.