Written by Tanya Terry
On a beautiful Saturday on Flint’s north side, “DJ Darius” Summers, an ambassador for the Detroit Pistons, welcomed attendees to witness the unveiling of a freshly refurbished basketball court. Summers said the court, at William Durant Park, was made possible because of the generosity of Flint Native, Founder of the FlintNOW Foundation and Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores.
The beautifully designed mural was designed by another Flint Native Jamiersen Green, founder of Leader Quality (a multidimensional creative agency).
Last year, FlintNOW Foundation announced a partnership with Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission (GCPRC) to renovate basketball courts and three parks throughout the county.
Funding for the three park projects is provided in part by a $10,000 grant from the FlintNOW Foundation.
“The initiative took off with the renovation at Windiate Park, and we’ll conclude with Riverside West Park in 2024,” said Summers.
Resurfacing at Riverside West Park was also recently completed.
Program Specialist at Keep Genesee County Parks Beautiful Emily Stetson said Genesee County Parks and Recreation was really proud to be part of a contribution to the city that advances equity amongst the county’s park system. Keep Genesee County Beautiful has been working with City of Flint in their park spaces for the last 19 years!
“Flint has 72 parks, and Mayor Sheldon Neeley is determined that they’re a valuable resource; he’s making sure they’re going to be cared for and that it’s safe and beautiful for the young and the elderly,” said Joyce Wilson with the new Flint Parks and Recreation Department.
The Flint Parks and Recreation Department just started June 20.
Wilson hopes children at the parks will be able to form friendship and team building skills.
According to Green, the mural design on the ground of the basketball court of two arms wrapped around a basketball represents love: love within the community, love within all of us and love within Flint. The words around it say restore, joy, peace and power.
Green asked community members not to vandalize the park and keep it up. Green said he hoped it can be a safe “home away from home” for kids, including those living in Flint’s 5th Ward, where the court is located.
Green’s father, James Green, who grew up on the north side of Flint, said he used to play there in the 70s.
“This park was full and some of the legends came out of this park,” said James Green.
Green expressed his hope the park would now be a place to have peace and make friends.
Alicia Jeffreys, Detroit Pistons, SVP, chief marketing officer, said Gores credits growing up in Flint with contributing to his success in business and who he is today.
“He speaks often about the responsibility that he feels to give back,” Jeffreys said.
She said this is something she thinks Jamiersen and herself would likely also say.
There were about 10 individuals who helped with the painting of the basketball court mural, using 200 gallons of paint for 10 12-hour days.
Mama Sol, who had also been doing some traveling, said she was there about 3-4 hours a day. for almost two weeks.
Sol said she considers Flint a “basketball town.” Sol attended Eastern Michigan University on a basketball scholarship.
“I’m from this community, and I know that colors are vibration and energy, and I know that if we can put a vibrant mural in front our children, it gives them some vibrancy, some energy, something positive, something to see,” Sol said. “I don’t think people would really come to this basketball court if we didn’t paint it.
Monte Morris, who joined the Detroit Pistons this summer, said as a Piston, he will do anything he can to help impact the youth and community.
“The community needs this,” Morris added. “We need more like this to bring the community together and just shine light on it.”
