A group of current and former Smackover residents have teamed with the city of Smackover to fund a complete overhaul of a basketball court located on Martin Luther King Drive.
The project, which is set to begin in May, will result in the court being repaved, both goals being replaced and a water fountain being installed.
As of the April council meeting, the court will be enlarged from its current size to high school regulation size, 84 feet x 50 feet.
City council member Paul Givens said the project is the “brainchild” of former Smackover resident Neil Richardson, assisted by former Smackover resident and University of Arkansas All-SEC player Jonathan “Pookie” Modica among others.
During the city’s February council meeting, council members passed a motion to assist in funding the court improvement.
Discussion surrounding the project continued in the March meeting. According to minutes from that meeting, a resident helping to raise money, Darwin Moore, spoke before the council.
Moore suggested that citizen fundraising pay for 60% of the court improvement with the city footing 40% of the bill, with $12,000 as the estimated total cost for the project.
Two goals to replace those currently at the court were ordered on April 12 by the city for a total of $3,398.
Givens, who is acting as a self-described intermediary between the fundraising group and the city, said the court at MLK Park has been in virtually the same state since he played on it as a kid, decades ago.
The court is one part of a park that includes a pavilion, a small playground and a second basketball court.
Givens said both the court and park have been and are popular gathering points for residents looking to play a pick-up game or simply relax outdoors.
“It’s still packed with kids on Sundays from all over the county,” Givens said.
A celebration is currently planned for the grand opening of the new court on June 18.