The court marks the third park the group refurbished in the city of Flint. Windiate Park was completed last summer and resurfacing at Riverside West Park was completed earlier this week. Funding for the three park projects is provided in part by a $10,000 grant from the FlintNOW Foundation.
The idea for the parks program originated with Green, an artist and Flint native who had previously worked with the Pistons organization and approached the FlintNOW Foundation about working together on the courts project. The court mural unveiled Saturday in Durant Park was designed by Green with input from community stakeholders.
“The artwork on this year’s court is an extension of our design at Windiate Park featuring arms of the community reaching out for a common goal,” said Green. “The arms of the community encompassing a heart-shaped basketball symbolizing the restoration of joy, love, peace and power to the north side, and Flint as a whole.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by representatives from all the organizations involved in the parks project: FlintNOW, Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission (GCPRC), Leader Quality (a multidimensional creative agency founded by Green), and the Detroit Pistons, including Flint Beecher point guard Monte Morris, who joined the team this summer.
The Pistons also hosted a basketball camp for area youth on the renovated courts.
