Northeast Oklahoma City Welcomes New NBA Size Basketball Court & Playground

Local leaders cut the ribbon on a brand-new NBA size basketball court and playground located on a hill behind Ebenezer Baptist Church Wednesday.

Members of the northeast Oklahoma City community said the new development is life changing for the children in the area and a step in the right direction for the area.

“I was born and raised here and to see things like this is things we’ve dreamed about for so long,” Jabee Williams, local activist said.

This new development isn’t just for Ebenezer Baptist Church members. It’s a place for people in the community and local organizations working with children to enjoy.

They’re getting a place that’s safe on the hill away from everything around them and they just get to be free,” Gina Darby with Oklahoma Operation Youth Literacy Program said.

“We need to focus on our kids. Every single day, I see our young men and women getting into situations they should not be getting into because we’re not investing in our community and we’re not investing in our kids,” Rep. Jason Lowe said.

Pastor Derrick Scobey collaborated with Oklahoma DHS and Oklahoma Youth Literacy Program to make this happen. He said you can’t just talk about the change you want to see.

“This effort right here behind the church, it signifies hope. The people here today they were hopeful. It was a small thing. A basketball court, a playground it’s something small but it means so very much in a symbolic manner,” Pastor Scobey said.

Civic leaders said in such a difficult year, the development is inspiring. It's not just a play area, but a chance to build positive relationships.

The near $100,000 project is funded by the CARES Act. Members of the community and civic leaders helped fundraise $20,000 to get the project over the finish line.