Balling out on a new blue court

New court installed for Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain

"We’re really focusing on the health and nutrition type programs for our kids and the community.

— Mike Conibear, executive director of the clubs

Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County can play more than basketball on their new court.

The new blue Versacourt multi-purpose sport court was installed in the parking lot of the Desich Family Campus, 4111 Pearl Ave., on Sept. 25.

Athletes may use the court for basketball, tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball and pickle ball, said Mike Conibear, executive director of the clubs.

The court is part of the clubs’ push for healthy living among the youngsters and the community, Conibear said.

“We’re really focusing on the health and nutrition type programs for our kids and the community,” he said. “We’re trying to get, not only the kids actively involved in health, nutrition educational programs, but also the parents. We’re trying to get more kids involved

in daily physical activity as part of our Boys and Girls Clubs America National program.”

According to Conibear, the court was funded by a grant from the city of Lorain.

“We got the funding through their Community (Development) Block Grant process,” he said. “We know there’s a real need for recreational

activities for kids in Lorain, so we wanted to kind of do an addition to our Boys and Girls Clubs property out here.”

In the application for that grant, the clubs indicated that the court would be used by both club members and the community. They also described the neighborhood that the court is in as “low-income and under served by recreational facilities.”

The Boys and Girls Clubs plan to get lights installed in the area so that adults

can use the court at night, Conibear.

“It’s kind of turned into a hot spot around here,” he said. “All of the guys and women I’ve talked to out there have been very appreciative of us having that court out there.

“The long term goal is to work with that population too, to expose them to different career opportunities and educational opportunities and things like that. So, not only outreach to the Boys and Girls Clubs kids, but outreach to the community

to try and engage those kids in some future activities that might benefit their lives to.”

Micah Mercado, 9, of Lorain, seemed to enjoy the new court as he and his fellow members of the Boys and Girls Clubs played a game of knockout Sept. 26.

Micah said that he preferred the court to playing on the asphalt.

“It’s super soft and stuff,” he said. “I like the grip and stuff. I like the color, supporting Boys and Girls Clubs.”

ERIC BONZAR—THE MORNING JOURNAL Lamar Martin, 10, of Lorain takes his shot during a game of knockout basketball as fellow members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County Desich Family Campus look on Sept. 26. The group was the first to play on the club’s new, Versacourt...