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On Friday, March 4th, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, Annie Cotton-Morris, President of the Woodside Tenants Association, community members, and youth broke ground on the nearly $500,000 improvement of basketball courts and play area at the Woodside Houses in Queens.
After being poorly maintained for many years, the courts became deteriorated and uneven, posing safety hazards to the young people who play basketball and other sports on the court, as well as community residents. An integral outdoor space, the basketball courts at Woodside Houses host the annual Woodside Classics, a youth basketball tournament that draws hundreds of sports fans from around the City to the neighborhood.
“The residents of Woodside Houses deserve a modern basketball court and play area, not one that has fallen into disrepair,” said Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “I’m proud to have secured half a million dollars to get the project done for youth, seniors, and residents in this community.”
“We’ve been working to get repairs for this basketball court since 1985,” said Annie Cotton-Morris, President of the Woodside Tenants Association. “This is more than just a basketball court—it’s an important axis and gathering place for our community. I’m glad that we can finally break ground on improvements that will make these courts up to date.”
Barshea Brown and Malik Campell, participants in the Woodside Classics Basketball Tournament, also spoke about their own experiences playing basketball in the community, and importance of the court as a community hub and space for youth to learn healthy life skills.
This groundbreaking is just one of many efforts undertaken by Majority Leader Van Bramer to improve conditions, especially outdoor spaces, for NYCHA residents. Other victories have included working with the Administration to secure $87 million in funds for roof replacements at Queensbridge and the nearly $6 million to restore the Queensbridge Seawall and park house.