ASAP Norwood Enhances Public Spaces

Community organizations and Individuals fund a new basketball court

Norwood, OH—September 5, 2020
ASAP Norwood, a Drug-Free Communities Support Program managed by the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio, partnered with the City of Norwood to renovate and re-open Waterworks Park Basketball Courts.  However, the effort required additional collaboration to build a $70,000 plus budget for the project that started nearly four years ago. 
 
“Our city is steeped in generosity, and this expression of public-private partnerships will hopefully be a catalyst for ongoing work to benefit residents of all ages,” explained Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator and ASAP Norwood Coalition Director Leslie N. Stevenson.  “We appreciate each donor and are glad to convene widespread support of increasing healthy life choices.” she concluded.
 
The community coalition collaborated with several local organizations and residents to design a court that reflects shared values of hard work, healthy living and safe places to be active in Norwood, including Interact for Health.  “As part of a partnership with ASAP Norwood, Interact for Health is honored to support the refurbishment of the basketball courts for people in Norwood of all ages to enjoy being active in a healthy, safe place,” said O’dell Moreno Owens, M.D., M.P.H., President and CEO.
 
Interact for Health has partnered with ASAP Norwood in recent years through the Thriving Communities initiative and to provide support for efforts to reduce youth tobacco use via Tobacco 21 policies.
 
The basketball court project began with Norwood Middle School students who participated in a teen empowerment group designed to prevent youth substance abuse.  They brainstormed ways to positively engage in the City.  Project co-leads Donna Laake, ASAP Norwood Co-Chair for Youth Voice & Youth Activities and Lt. Ron Murphy, Norwood Police Department, served as liaisons between City Administration and youth to ensure the student’s vision was achieved.
 
Jazmin Madden, a 10th grader in the Positively Influence People group at Norwood High School shared, “It is amazing that our project idea was accepted and completed by a team of organizations. We are glad that our voices were heard by the community. Thank you.”
 
The idea was then bolstered through public and private investment, planning and execution over a 13-month period.  The City’s Public Works department worked with Borgman Athletics, LLC and BLDG to complete the project.  On Saturday, August 29, at 9 a.m. Mayor Victor Schneider made a proclamation to officially re-open the courts for public use.
 
“The Mayor’s Office is incredibly excited to see the collaboration, dedication and hard work that led to the revitalization of the Waterworks basketball courts,” said Tom Perry, Executive Assistant to Mayor Schneider.  “This effort is a testament to Norwood’s engaged citizens and community groups. As Harry Truman said, ‘It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.’”
 
“PPG’s motto is ‘to protect and beautify the world’,” explained Andy Bolgzds, PPG Technical Service Rep and Norwood resident who donated paint for the project.  “It was our pleasure to donate to this project and give the kids of Norwood a place they can play hoops and call their own. A special thanks goes out to PPG’s Architectural division as well as the Reading Rd. store and its manager, Audie Setser.”
 
The coalition activates youth substance abuse prevention through collaboration with these additional project donors:

• Norwood Fire Association
• Norwood Police Association
• New City Church
• Zion Church of Christ
• Photo Lab, Inc.
• And individual, private donors

 
“We started the Gem of the Highlands 5K to help build community and raise money for Norwood parks,” explained Amanda Sinclair, Board President.  “With $16,000 of race proceeds donated to Waterworks hoops, we're excited to join with these partner groups to help fulfill our mission. Our volunteer board looks forward to more race proceeds turning into Norwood ribbon cuttings!”
 
ASAP Norwood also partnered with Norwood Together to create the #WaterworksHoops sweepstakes.  Beginning September 5th, residents of all ages are invited to come to the court and take a selfie of safe, socially distance activities.  Photos must be posted on Facebook and must have #WaterworksHoops in the post to be entered in the sweepstakes. 
 
“It has been an honor to work with our partner organization ASAP Norwood on the Waterworks courts launch project,” shared MaryC Miller, Board President, Norwood Together. “We are very proud to play a role in working to improve our parks and to provide safe places for families to gather and children to play. The perseverance of seeing this project move from an idea to a reality has truly been wonderful to watch.”
 
Entries can be made until 11:59 p.m. on September 12.  Winners of the raffle will be posted on Sunday, September 13 to the ASAP Norwood Facebook Page .
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