A longtime wish of one Allentown neighborhood has been granted.
Stevens Park will finally get a full-sized basketball court, thanks to a
Advocates see it as a win, because residents will very soon be able to enjoy the new court; construction began this week, and it will be complete by the end of the month at the relatively low cost of $75,000. The nonprofit Allentown Parknership, founded last year, will cover the costs thanks to a founding contribution from the Dorothy Rider Pool Endowment, which specifically funds park improvements in distressed neighborhoods.
“It’s really such a win when you’re able to do these things quickly and meet a need,” said Ruffian Tittman, the Allentown Parknership’s executive director. “Some projects have a 12-month timeline, some have five years, 10 years, but this was something where we were able to bring an immediate impact.”
The court has been a longtime ask of the community. The city made improvements to Stevens Park last year, which included a deep clean of park equipment and plumbing fixes that brought water to a previously nonfunctioning fountain. But some residents criticized the city for failing to do more to revitalize the park in the Jordan Heights neighborhood.
“Parks are supposed to be fun. They should be designed with children’s imaginations in mind, sparking joy and creativity. But what do we have here? A half-court basketball area that feels more like a trap than a place for kids to enjoy,” wrote Michael Richardson, volunteer coordinator for Promise Neighborhoods of the СŷƵ, in an opinion piece for СŷƵ. “I’ve seen county jails with half-courts, but never in a public park that’s meant to serve a community. A half-court only invites frustration — too many people waiting on the sidelines, or too many people crowding the court, playing unorganized, chaotic ball.”
In a recent interview, Richardson said the city’s investment in a full-sized court is “beautiful, that they are listening to the voices of the community.”
“It’s just what the kids deserve, a full court to play basketball, to enjoy a basketball game,” Richardson said.
To Jessica Lee Ortiz, whose nonprofit Ortiz Ark Foundation holds community events in Stevens Park, the improvements are about more than just basketball. It’s about diverting children who might otherwise fall into crime or drugs with opportunities for recreation; providing an outlet for their frustrations or just a way to pass the time.
“In this neighborhood, you may not understand, but the park is the babysitter,” Ortiz said. “The park needs to be as functional as possible so parents can have a breath, to cook dinner, clean the house. Allow the kids to go to the park, many people don’t know how important that is.”
Ortiz lives in the neighborhood and helped collect feedback from residents on behalf of the city about the park. Overwhelmingly, residents asked for a full-sized court, she said.
The park has been a site of homelessness, drug use and even tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Treshawn Tracy, an Allen High School sophomore, was shot and killed there in 2022. Elijah Patterson, 19, was charged with criminal homicide in connection to his death and received a 50 years-to-life sentence this year.
City officials and community advocates are trying to turn the park’s reputation around. In addition to the new court, the city began hosting “Monday fundays” at Stevens Park in the warmer months, offering games and activities geared toward younger children.
The city will host a “grand celebration” when the full-sized court is expected to open June 28.
“A lot of people talk about ending crime and stopping violence, this is how you do it,” Ortiz said. “It’s not about anything else but giving them something to do. How do you stop crime, improve mental health? It’s one thing: repurposing that energy, giving people something to do with their lives, taking the burden off their daily stresses. The park is just that.”
Reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at Liweber@mcall.com.
