COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Oct. 10, 2024) – The USA Basketball Foundation, in partnership with Project Backboard, refurbished the outdoor basketball court at the Hillside Community Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The refurbishment, which was done in honor of USA Basketball’s 50th Anniversary, was a collaboration between the USA Basketball Foundation and Project Backboard. The project was made possible by the financial backing of JDS Sports through its Play With Purpose fund.
“We are incredibly grateful to have forged a partnership with Project Backboard and USA Basketball Foundation supporter JDS Sports to bring this project to life,” said USA Basketball Foundation chief development officer Jennifer Lynne Williams. “Celebrating USA Basketball’s 50th anniversary by leaving a legacy in our home city—Colorado Springs—is extremely special. Empowering youth is one of the core pillars of the Foundation and we hope that this new court will inspire the students at the Hillside Community Center to not only strive for excellence on the court but to also go for gold in every aspect of their lives.”
"USA Basketball's influence permeates the entire country, if not the world,” said Peter Robert Casey of JDS Sports. “But it's a special treat when you can magnify that impact locally, particularly in step with USA Basketball's milestone 50th anniversary and golden performances in Paris last summer. We trust this newly refurbished court will continue to be a vibrant hub and inspiration for the Hillside Community."
The court dedication ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon and attended by officials from USA Basketball, Project Backboard, JDS Sports, the City of Colorado Springs and Hillside Community Center.
B-roll and photos for media use are available at the link below (please credit USA Basketball).
About USA Basketball
USA Basketball, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, is the National Governing Body for the sport of basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection and training of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored basketball competitions and select national events, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives addressing player development, coach education and safety. To learn more, click here.
About Project Backboard
Project Backboard is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2015, whose mission is to renovate public basketball courts and install large scale works of site-specific art on the surface in order to strengthen communities, improve park safety, encourage multi-generational play, and inspire people to think more critically and creatively about their environment.
About Hillside Community Center
Hillside Community Center is one of the City's newest centers. This fabulous local resource opened its doors in April 1990, and it just keeps getting better! The center is a mecca for an extremely diverse neighborhood, and just East of the downtown core, has won numerous awards for community-building and redevelopment efforts. This center features a full-size basketball court; two volleyball courts; men's and women's locker rooms; classrooms and meeting or activity rooms. Hillside is frequently utilized by various educational programs; political events; cultural activities and more. The El Pomar Youth Bike Park-opened December 2018. Located on the east side of Fountain Park, this state of the art park offers trails, ramps and turns for the beginning cyclist to the more advanced.