DT Public Basketball Court

[Just the facts]

Several spaces have already been added around the Myriad Gardens (just to name a few). But why let facts get in the way.

...and how many spaces are not available right now due to on-going construction? Is it more or less than what has been added?

[ThomPaine]

Some time ago they a big three-on-three tournament on a bunch of the downtown streets. Set up a bunch of temporary goals and played a ton of half-court games. The ad below was from 1990.

Whatever happened to this? I remember it was very popular. Really easy way to bring people downtown.

This was a great event. Only problem for me was one of my guys played ball at TU, so we got moved into a higher category and got smoked. Would love to see it come back to OKC, especially with the Thunder in town.

[Pete]

Steve is featuring that 3-on-3 event today on his blog. I posted this general thought there...

How about embedding basketball goal sleeves in many of the downtown streets? Lots of schools do this in their parking lots so they can host huge hoops summer camps. They merely store the goals and drop them into place when needed, then quickly take them down again.

As a part of the Better Block initiative that is just starting in OKC, they have had a lot of success in periodically taking back the streets for fun and recreation. We have all those new beautiful downtown streets that go almost unused on weekends and evenings... Why not close off streets and rotate basketball goals around the area? And of course, it would make it super easy to set up for something like 3-on-3 events.

We could do the same with street hockey goals and other sports. Just chalk off the court lines and wash them off later.


But basketball is the most urban of all games and you just know lots of young people would be drawn to the central city if they had the skyline as the backdrop for their game.

[Just the facts]

How about embedding basketball goal sleeves in many of the downtown streets? Lots of schools do this in their parking lots so they can host huge hoops summer camps. They merely store the goals and drop them into place when needed, then quickly take them down again.

How weird - I just did this at my home 2 months ago. It is a good idea but would require an organization to pull it off every year.

[catch22]

BLDC-2012-02255 --400 W RENO AVE.

Building permit accepted and on file with the city. Awaiting approval.

[rcjunkie]

How weird - I just did this at my home 2 months ago. It is a good idea but would require an organization to pull it off every year.

it's easier and more mobile to just use portable goals.

[Just the facts]

it's easier and more mobile to just use portable goals.

We had a portable goal but every time I wanted to move it I had to empty the water out, move it, and refill with water. I tried moving it once without taking the water out and broke the wheels off. The big base was also unsightly and killed a big square of grass next to the driveway. Plus, the current system is anchored in about 150 lbs of buried concrete - it isn't going to tip over on a dunk.

[Reno and Walker]

We had a portable goal but every time I wanted to move it I had to empty the water out, move it, and refill with water. I tried moving it once without taking the water out and broke the wheels off. The big base was also unsightly and killed a big square of grass next to the driveway. Plus, the current system is anchored in about 150 lbs of buried concrete - it isn't going to tip over on a dunk.

Looks like they have started putting the courts in!!!!!That was FAST !!!!!!!!!!

[metro]

Pics?

[Pete]

Here you go! This Reno looking south courtesy BoulderSooner:

[ljbab728]

Looks like it's ready for KD's next Nike commercial.

[catch22]

This is Oklahoma City right?

Love it!

[dcsooner]

Here you go! This Reno looking south courtesy BoulderSooner:

Nice! and urban

[Rover]

Surrounded by buildings might make it urban. There are bball courts outdoors all over the metro. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea that another aspect of everyday living amenities comes to downtown. Nothing but positive. But there is nothing in the picture to indicate "urban". When it is surrounded by people living/working across the street and lots of kids playing there, then it will look urban.

This is a piece of the puzzle, but we need to keep adding permanent pieces to actually become "urban".

[CuatrodeMayo]

I do not know of other public courts that are caged in like this around the city. I agree with you, but I think the above posters are associating a caged court with an urban court.

[Just the facts]

I do not know of other public courts that are caged in like this around the city. I agree with you, but I think the above posters are associating a caged court with an urban court.

^This. I have not seen very many fenced in suburban courts and none this close to the street. The suburban courts I know of are located in parks away from the street.

[Snowman]

I do not know of other public courts that are caged in like this around the city. I agree with you, but I think the above posters are associating a caged court with an urban court.

I have seen at least a couple caged public courts in OKC suburbs, most of the time when they are located near a street.

[Pete]

From BoulderSooner:

[Rover]

This is a great addition to life downtown. However, it isn't particularly urban or suburban. If these remain when everything builds around it it will be urban. Why does everything become a competition? It is just a good project, no matter where it is placed.

[Just the facts]

Maybe you just don't have an eye for these things Rover. Some people can tell the difference between wines grown at vineyards across the street from each other - it all tastes the same to me. Other people can identify urban and suburban characteristics by looking at a photo - and some people just see a basketball court.

Here are the clues that make this an urban court. No single characteristic makes it urban, but all taken together does.

1) Full cage enclosure
2) Commercial buildings in background - not houses
3) Absence of grass outside the court
4) It's not in a park
5) Proximity to the street
6) Lights

[Rover]

Maybe you just don't have an eye for these things Rover. Some people can tell the difference between wines grown at vineyards across the street from each other - it all tastes the same to me. Other people can identify urban and suburban characteristics by looking at a photo - and some people just see a basketball court.

Here are the clues that make this an urban court. No single characteristic makes it urban, but all taken together does.

1) Full cage enclosure
2) Commercial buildings in background - not houses
3) Absence of grass outside the court
4) It's not in a park
5) Proximity to the street
6) Lights

Gosh golly you have great eyes. I completely missed the fact there were no barns or silos in the picture. I will go back to my farm and adjust my eyes. Thanks for correcting poor old dumb me.

Seems like somebody needs to learn the value of context. Without context it is just pretext.

[Just the facts]

You are the one that challenged DCSooner when he said it looked urban so don't get mad when the obvious is pointed out. I gave you 6 characteristics that make this an urban basketball court. What do you see in the photos that would indicate it was a suburban location?

[MikeOKC]

You are the one that corrected DCSooner when he said it looked urban so don't get mad when the obvious is pointed out.

I've got to be a smart*&%% and point this out....

I'm glad Pete posted the last few photos, because that first one didn't quite give me an "urban" vibe with the old gold pickup truck in the shot.


In all seriousness, this is great stuff.

[Martin]

looks great... what are the plans for the rest of that parking lot? -M

[Just the facts]

I think the plan for the rest of the parking lot is to replace the Thunder season pass parking lost under the Crosstown. That is until the Convention Center is built. Then it all goes away.