CLEVELAND — There’s a new multi-sport court in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood. The new area aims to fight playspace inequity by providing a safe spot for kids to stay active.
Many organizations were involved to bring this project to life including the city of Cleveland, The Famicos Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, KABOOM!, MyCom, The Cleveland Metropolitian School District, and General Motors.
“The lack of available greenspace and places where kids can use their imaginations and spend time being children,” is how Diona James defined playspace inequity. She is a Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellow. “I think that this project was specifically focused on bringing some equity back into Glenville especially as playspaces go because when you look around, there’s not a lot of places for people to play.”
It’s really all about the kids, like DaNaria Perkins and her siblings.
There’s a new multi-sport court in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood right by Mary McLeod Bethune School. The new area aims to fight playspace inequity by providing a safe spot for kids to stay active. @SpectrumNews1OH @CleveFoundation @CLEMetroSchools @Famicos @CityofCleveland pic.twitter.com/l90WAdcqJH
— Micaela Marshall (@MMarshallTV) August 13, 2021
DaNaria takes her role as a big sister seriously.
“I like being a big sister. It’s cool. You have a lot of responsibilities though,” said DaNaria.
The 13 year old loves to cheer and dance, just like her sister Destiny. Their brother, 11-year-old Desani Little, enjoys football.
All of the siblings like to play games like soccer together.
“Now we can play a game together instead of always separated like some of us on the slides some of us on the swings,” said Destiny.
That’s possible thanks to the brand new multi sport-court that just opened up at Mary Mcleod Bethune Elementary, where the girls go to school.
“I can walk, ride my bike and then come play because we’re right around the corner,” said Destiny.
The family lives close by.
“It’s a good neighborhood that has a lot of kids,” said DaNaria.
Kids are creative, but it’s not always easy to find safe places to play in urban areas.
“It’s easier because then we make friends here,” said Desani.
The playspace is open to everyone and it offers free Wi-Fi services, too. The sport-court is perfect for team games like tennis, volleyball and soccer.
“You can do a lot of things over here,” said DaNaria.
The space is geared toward older kids and teens who have outgrown the playground.
“Most of us in school like to play sports so I think this was a good idea,” said Destiny.
The idea came from multiple community partners working together for months. Now hundreds of kids and families will be able to safely play right where they live and learn for years to come.
“A lot of people will be here once school starts back,” said DaNaria.
Rendering of the multi-sport court.
This project is part of a larger revitalization project in Glenville. The sport-court is an $80,000 investment in the neighborhood and the work isn’t done yet.
“The ‘Purpose Built Communities,’ the model is essentially focused on three different pillars,” said James. “The first being wellness. The second being cradle to college pipeline, and the third being mixed income housing and so having this playspace right next to the school, right across the street from some new housing developments that are going in, it’s really mean to be a holistic way to address the neighborhood.”
This project has been in the works for a while and COVID-19 pushed everything back. Everyone involved is really excited for this area to be open for kids to play and as a way to engage the entire community.
