Parks to receive $6M funding, residents upset about new basketball court

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Youngstown City Council Wednesday evening approved the spending of $6 million in American Rescue Plan money to renovate 11 city parks.

A specific project in one park created the most discussion at the meeting: the basketball court at Lynn Park.

Lynn Park is in Youngstown’s Brownlee Woods neighborhood and the city plans to spend $748,000 of the ARP money to renovate it.

But the issue some neighbors have is with the new basketball court which will be enlarged and placed against the backyards of people living on Sheridan Road and Meadowbrook Avenue.

Councilwoman Amber White whose 7th ward includes Lynn Park held up a petition from the residents around the park.

“Where did the data come from that shows the need for a full-size court and relocation of that?” White asked.

“All these signatures and the 58 online goes completely against it, to actually stop the construction of that full-size basketball court. That’s how much unrest it has created,” White said.

Former Councilman John Swierz said the plans for the basketball court should change.

“That basketball court is going to be behind somebody’s house,” Swierz said. “I’m opposed to it and that’s where I’m going to stand ’cause I think there is a better place and it’s Pemberton Park. We have really let Pemberton Park slide. There’s nothing there other than a pavilion.”

Former councilwoman Basia Adamczak wants the basketball court. She read Facebook messages of people opposing it.

She said one Facebook message stated, “Pickleball would bring in a better wholesome crowd.”

Another message said, “If we get a basketball court, anytime I’m out of the house I’ll be carrying and I’ll do what I have to do.”

“To me, these are alarming comments,” said Adamczak. “I’m not going to allude to the underlying tone but I’m sure we can all hear it.”

Councilwoman White says she plans to meet with Mayor Tito Brown tomorrow morning to see what, if anything, can be done about the basketball court.

The other parks and projects to receive funding are:

• Homestead Park
• Crandall Park
• Lynn Park
• Falls Park
• Roy Street
• Pemberton Park
• Wick Park
• West End Field
• Borts Field
• Eugenia Atkinson project
• Princeton-Market Greenspace project

Council also approved spending $1.5 million to renovate the former Bottom Dollar grocery store on Glenwood Avenue which the city regained control of last year.

Its first tenant will be the Euclid, Ohio-based organization called The Village of Healing which operates an infant mortality clinic focused on black women and children.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.