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A Place to Play

During my childhood, my brother, friends and I would go to the outdoor basketball courts at Adams Middle School all the time. I spent countless hours exercising, having a good time with my friends, and dreaming. Although the court was old, the baskets were not regulation, and the pavement was slippery, especially when it was wet, it was all we had and we were grateful to have a place to play.

When I came back to Guilford after graduating college, the outdoor courts were constructed at the police station—how marvelous! Not only were the courts brand new, with single rims and lights for night basketball, there were two of them! I would still make it out to the courts from time to time to play pick-up hoops and I entered a team in the men’s summer league. This gave me a great source of exercise, stress release, and joy. I would take my own children to these courts and taught them how to shoot a basketball and make a lay-up, very special memories. As they got older, they would go down to the courts without me and play with their friends, a valuable learning experience for them on fair play, sportsmanship, and problem solving.

Each summer, I entered Guilford teams in a youth summer league. We would practice down at the police courts. There were adult leagues, Guilford Basketball League adult-run pick-up, and old school pick-up, so I would plan my practices late afternoon so we could make sure to get a court.

Outdoor basketball in Guilford provides recreation, exercise, fun, social interactions, problem solving, and most important, a vehicle with which to dream. Hundreds of children have had the same benefits from these courts. Let’s save the police courts.

Cliff Yerkes

Guilford