Basketball courts at Open Road Park getting refurbished thanks to NBA star Kevin Durant

Work is at roughly the halfway point at Open Road Park adjacent to the East Side Community School on 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As the signs note, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF) is funding the refurbishment of the basketball courts.



Here's more about the program:

In 2015, NIKE, Inc., Kevin Durant, and the KDCF partnered to create the BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL Courts Renovation Initiative to increase the number of high quality basketball courts accessible to underprivileged youth across the United States and internationally. BUILD IT AND THEY WILL BALL will propel the mission of the KDCF to enrich the lives of youth from low-income backgrounds through various educational and athletic programs.

The refurbishment includes a KDCF mural by Bronx-based artist André Trenier (who does the monthly murals on the gate at Mikey Likes It on Avenue A)...





Perhaps this will entice Durant to come play for the Knicks. #Heh

What's going on at Open Road Park?

EVG reader Steve Carter notes this morning that workers are on the scene at Open Road Park, the playground popular with skateboarders adjacent to the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

It appears that the workers are dismantling/pulverizing the benches and other seating areas around the park.

One young man with a skateboard said, "I got to go inside before I kill somebody."

There have been off-and-on again issues here the past few years... In June 2011, officials from East Side temporarily closed the park. During a public meeting, officials cited increasing incidents of discarding trash and debris, smoking cigarettes, selling marijuana ... and trouble with people not respecting set school or other programmed activities.

We'll see what's next here ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Another public meeting to discuss Open Road Park

Tonight, CB3's Parks, Recreation, Cultural Affairs, Landmarks, & Waterfront Committee meets to discuss the "public use of Open Road Joint Operated Playground" over on East 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...

We've lost track what's been going on here... In June 2011, officials from the East Side Community High School temporarily closed the park popular with skateboarders... During a public meeting, officials cited increasing incidents of discarding trash and debris, smoking cigarettes, selling marijuana ... and trouble with people not respecting set school or other programmed activities. (This report came via EVG reader dwg, who was in attendance.)

The park closed again last December ... someone even tossed the skateboarding ramps ... the park later reopened...

Given the need for another meeting... things must not have improved this year...

The meeting is at 7:15 p.m. at BRC Senior Services Center, 30 Delancey Street (btwn Chrystie & Forsyth Streets).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

[Updated] School officials trash the skateboard ramps from Open Road Park

Earlier this week, an EV Grieve reader told me that the NYC Department of Education closed the Open Road Park, which is adjacent to the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

This also happened back in June, as we first reported. During a meeting in late June, Mark Federman, the principal of the school, told residents about increased "incidents of trash and debris, smoking cigarettes, marijuana — some selling of marijuana."

The park reopened as of July 1.

We thought this most recent closure would also be temporary.

Not so.

The park's skateboard ramps have been discarded along with the rest of the trash along East 12th Street ...

UPDATED:

A reader on Facebook just commented, "A white station wagon has just removed all but the dark brown ramp, which wouldn't fit in his car."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Open Road Park back open last evening

Dunno if it was supposed to be yet... but the gates were open... and I counted 14 skateboarders inside...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

School official: Open Road Park closure is temporary

As we first reported, officials from the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue closed Open Road Park last week.

School officials held a meeting to discuss the Open Road Park's future yesterday afternoon at 4. EV Grieve reader dwg was there, and filed this report:

Mark Federman, the principal of the school, spoke to a handful residents and a group of skaters. A woman from Open Road was there, the guy who runs skateboard classes, assistant principal, custodian and a rep from Rosie Mendez's office.

Basically the park was closed because of increasing incidents of trash and debris, smoking cigarettes, marijuana — some selling of marijuana ... and skaters and others in the park before or after hours and trouble with people not respecting set school or other programmed activities.

Federman said the closing is temporary ... to revaluate the hours and increase supervision and come up with defined hours and rules for the park. He said things got a little lax and they need to improve on that.

Open Roads is going to post new signs soon with park hours, rules and regulations ... and then the park will open again. No date was given but sounded like a week or so.

Everyone got a chance to speak and voice concerns. Federman is concerned and aware and wants to keep it open, but run a little tighter program.

The Local East Village has a meeting recap here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Late yesterday afternoon at Open Road Park

Photo by Dave on 7th.

Meanwhile, the public meeting to discuss the Open Road Park's future is tomorrow afternoon at 4. The meeting will be in the park here off 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Why the Open Road Park is closed

Yesterday, we reported that the NYC Department of Education closed the Open Road Park ... the playground popular with skateboarders adjacent to the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

In the comments, a reader noted the following sign outside the Park:

Dear Community Members:

We are very sorry to have to temporarily close the park. East Side Community High School is committed to making this space available to the community and reopening it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in dangerous, disrespectful and illegal behaviors in the park. This includes, but is not limited to, drinking, smoking, fighting, vandalism and excessive littering. This has put our students and community members at risk. We will be working closely with the community and park users to discuss how we can maintain LES Park as a safe public space that serves the community (outside of school and camp hours.) East Side will be holding a public meeting next week to discuss this matter. More details will follow. Please feel free to email lespark@eschs.org with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Sincerely,

East Side Community High School

However, when we walked by early last evening, someone had apparently ripped down the signs...

DNAinfo has more on the story here.

Open Road Park closed now on 12th Street

An EV Grieve reader told me that the NYC Department of Education has closed the popular Open Road Park ... the park, adjacent to the East Side Community High School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, is a major space, of course, for skateboarders...

Three skateboarders stood rather glumly outside the fence on the 11th Street entrance last evening. None of them had any idea what was happening with the park...

I'm told the school closed the park on Monday. I reached out to the folks who look after Open Road. Via Facebook, they said, "Sorry, we don't know right now. The school is figuring out next steps."

Meanwhile, I sent an email to the address listed on the flyer. It bounced back, noting that "Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently."