Long a winter pursuit in Stratford, a new outdoor NBA-sized court in the Festival City will open up new lanes, literally, for the city’s growing contingent of basketball talent.
The project is currently under development at the Stratford Education and Recreation Complex (SERC). The 94 feet by 50 feet court will feature a modern ‘sport court’, colourful, all-weather surface, six baskets with a chain link fence surrounding it.
It will also have lights, so games can continue after dark.
“Basketball is gender equal, inexpensive to play, all you need is a pair of shoes and a ball,” said Brian Cooper, one of a trio of Stratford residents spearheading the project.
The sport has enjoyed growth in Canada since the Toronto Raptors joined the NBA, Cooper said, led by marketable stars, whose appeal stretches far beyond the hardwood.
“It’s music, it’s fashion, it’s swagger, it reaches out to new Canadians more than any other sport.”
The court is being built for the city of Stratford on behalf of the Stratford Basketball Association (SBA). The SBA has the ability to use the court for programming but any court rental and anything to do with court maintenance is the responsibility of the city.
Cooper and his wife, Lori Belanger, a former Raptors courtside reporter and Global TV anchor, got the ball rolling.
Belanger sat on the SBA board of directors for eight years.
Cooper is chairman of the board of Canada Basketball. Another big local contributor is Michael Bartlett, president of Canada Basketball.
These three well-connected Stratford residents formed the outdoor court basketball committee.
They teamed up with local residents, businesses, and foundations - anyone who wanted to help out - and have managed to raise more than $200,000 for the project. The city of Stratford donated the land and have been a big help with other aspects of the project, Cooper said.
“The effort has been representative of the community spirit in Stratford,” Cooper said.
The SBA will host an opening ceremony, scheduled for June 25, beginning at 3 p.m. Special guests will include Nav Bhatia, the Raptors super fan known for his generosity and Raptor loyalty from his baseline courtside seat. Bhatia made a generous donation to the project, Cooper said.
Cooper said Stratford has plenty of venues for hockey, baseball, soccer and volleyball. A new basketball court was recently build near the city’s YMCA, but it’s not regulation size and has no lighting, he said.
The new court is open to everyone. Cooper noted that school boards will take advantage of the space and summer camps at the site are being discussed.
The basketball community is excited to get a top-notch outdoor court that will help continue to grow the game in Stratford.
“It’s going to be first class,” said Cooper.
