Published: 5/3/2018 9:31:49 PM
NORTHAMPTON — A brand new basketball court at Ryan Road Elementary School will be unveiled to the public Sunday evening.
The court was built by League Legends, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable recreation opportunities to the community.
The court, which is tentatively being called Legends Court pending approval of the School Committee, is dedicated to the memory of David Holman and Miles Adams, two former Northampton High School students who died in separate car accidents in 2007.
League Legends was started in 2008 by a small group of NHS alumni who played pick-up basketball with Holman and Adams at Ryan Road while they were in high school, spokesman Michael O’Brien said.
Since its inception, volunteers at League Legends have been trying to raise enough money to build a new court in honor of Holman and Adams, O’Brien said.
O’Brien explained that he, Holman, Adams and other students all participated in a pick-up league, simply known as “the league,” while they were in high school, and that games were played in an unlevel parking lot at Ryan Roads Elementary with inadequate lighting and no lines.
“A court like this one would have been great for us to have in high school, so I think it will be a great community resource and hopefully a powerful tribute to David and Miles,” O’Brien said.
Gleason-Johndrow Landscaping donated labor to construct of the court.
“Without them, there was zero chance this project would have gotten done,” O’Brien said.
Although the original purpose of the organization has now been fulfilled, O’Brien said League Legends will continue to promote affordable recreation and organize events in the community.
The group organizes youth basketball clinics called “little legends,” as well as an internship program with NHS and an annual teacher-student basketball game there.
The dedication ceremony will be held at the new court Sunday, from 7 to 8 p.m.