Eagle Scout shepherds hoops project at Browns Park

There’s a new basketball court at Browns Park in Spokane Valley.

It was built as an Eagle Scout project, with help from Hoopfest.

University High School senior Austin Dill, 17, has played basketball as long as he can remember, and he couldn’t imagine a better Eagle Scout project than a new court.

“I grew up around here and there aren’t that many places to play outdoors, except in someone’s driveway,” Dill said.

Browns Park is at 32nd Avenue and Pines Road, across the street from the high school.

Dill’s project was recognized by the Spokane Valley City Council at its meeting Tuesday.

When Dill decided on the basketball project, a friend suggested he approach Hoopfest.

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament organization donates courts and backboards to neighborhood groups and parks, and seemed like the perfect match.

Since 1994, Hoopfest has donated to construction and refurbishing of close to 30 basketball courts, Hoopfest Executive Director Matt Santangelo said.

Santangelo started with Hoopfest in April 2014 and learned of Dill’s project right away.

“He had sort of been put on the back burner,” Santangelo said. “He deserves a ton of credit for being persistent and following up with us.”

Santangelo also complimented Dill for putting together a well-organized project.

“He did a ton of legwork with the contractors and the parks department,” Santangelo said. “I can’t imagine that there was an easier court construction project for Hoopfest than that one.”

Dill planned the project and coordinated the work of contractors, as well as city approval and permits.

Mike Stone, Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation director, said Dill worked diligently to get it all done.

He’s grateful for the new court.

“It’s a huge benefit to our park system,” Stone said.

He estimated it would cost Spokane Valley nearly $30,000 to construct a similar court.

“I drive by here a lot and someone is always playing on it,” Stone said.

Dill said the biggest challenge was coordinating the contractors and the weather.

“It just got really cold and they couldn’t pour the cement,” Dill said. “We had to wait.”

The court was done in March and will have a small commemorative plaque identifying it as an Eagle Scout project.

“It was great to get the help of Hoopfest,” said Dill’s mom, Donna Dill. “But he would have made it happen either way. This is what he wanted to do.”