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Barry Farm Recreation Center to Receive New Basketball Court Courtesy of Nike, Inc.

Thursday, August 13, 2009
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Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195 (DPR); Jack Pfeiffer, (202) 727-1751 (EOM)

Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty joined Nike Inc., US Director of Government and Public Affairs, Orson C. Porter; Nike, Inc., General Manager of Nike Eastern Territory, Daryl Jones; DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Acting Director, Ximena Hartsock; and the Ward 8 community to announce the donation of a new outdoor basketball court for DPR's Barry Farm Recreation Center in Southeast Washington by Nike and LeBron James.

Nike awarded DPR a NikeGO Places grant for up to $50,000 to refurbish a basketball court at the Barry Farm Recreation Center. DPR has teamed up with  Nike and the LeBron James More Than A Game Tour to encourage grass roots basketball, community service and empower District youth.

“My administration is committed to enhancing and expanding recreational opportunities for youth in the District, we are proud to partner with Nike and LeBron James in this endeavor," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “This partnership marks a great investment in our community and our youth; DC’s Barry Farm Recreation Center is widely considered one of the best places to watch street basketball.”

The new outdoor basketball court will feature Nike Grind Foam, a raw material made from recycled athletic shoes collected through the Reuse-A-Shoe program, as well as manufacturing scrap and shoes with manufacturing flaws.  Nike has partnered with industry-leading sports surfacing companies to incorporate this material into their products, as well using it in their own product manufacturing. Construction will begin this fall.

“When you combine the inspiration of LeBron with the opportunities this new court will provide to youth, the transformative power of sport is endless,” said General Manager of Nike Eastern Territory, Daryl Jones.

Tomorrow, Hartsock will join LeBron James at the More Than a Game Community Hoops Festival at the Kastles Stadium. LeBron James, members of the Washington Mystics and local celebrities will also be in attendance. This event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm.

"I want to thank Nike and LeBron James for their generosity and support of DPR" said DPR Acting Director Hartsock.  "Donations like this one make a very real and meaningful impact on the lives of our residents."

View photos from the event at DPR's flickr photostream.*

For information on how to support or contribute to the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, please contact DPR's Office of Partnerships and Development at (202) 671-1462 or [email protected].

*Note: Some links provided on dc.gov or other DC government websites may display vendor logos, banners, or similar identification. Such links are used for operational reasons only and do not constitute or imply any endorsement of any vendor or its product.