Hoopfest To Build Court At Chief Garry Park In/Around: Chief Garry Park

Chief Garry Park A free lunch, no.

But a free basketball court? Well, yes.

Residents of the Chief Garry Park Neighborhood Steering Committee were offered a basketball court for Chief Garry Park last week by the organizers of Hoopfest.

A non-profit basketball tournament, Hoopfest wants to build two courts in Spokane neighborhood parks each year as part of its mission to promote the sport and give something back to city residents.

Last year, Hillyard’s Harmon Park was the recipient. This year Hoopfest approached city Parks Department staff about Garry Park and others.

Parks managers, in turn, approached residents. They were receptive, and the neighborhood steering committee voted to accept the basketball court as part of the park.

Construction could begin this week.

Some neighborhoods have been hesitant about accepting the offer because Hoopfest asks that the court be lighted. Money for the lights, perhaps $3,000, would come out of the neighborhood’s community development allocation.

At a meeting last week, residents also expressed fears that lights might bring in teenagers for other activities and that noise from the games would spread into the neighborhood.

In addressing concerns, Mike Stone, Parks Department manager, said the park has an 11 p.m. curfew. If the neighborhood wished, the basketball lights could be turned off even earlier.

A school official also said courts at Stevens Elementary draw mostly younger kids from the area who don’t drive cars.

Without Hoopfest, the court would cost $20,000, Stone added.

The neighborhood was approached because a neighborhood improvement plan identified basketball as a potential use for the Chief Garry Park.

“We don’t want to feel at all we’re pressuring you,” Stone told the residents. “You can take it or leave it. The Park Board will do what the neighborhood wants.”

Residents were also told that one tree might have to be felled to accommodate the court, which will be 40 feet by 70 feet. The park’s horseshoe pit also would have to be moved.

Neighbors had concerns about traffic and late-night play but in the end agreed the advantages of having another activity for kids outweighed potential problems.

The steering committee also decided to spend any remaining community development money - about $15,000 - on development of a new park in the Parkwater neighborhood.

Property along Commerce Avenue has been purchased by the city, and park development awaits a study and sufficient funding.

, DataTimes