Thursday, July 12, 2012

Walnut Hills park wins $15K grant

DeHart Playground has finished fifth in a nationwide competition, winning $15,000 for the rehabilitation of its basketball courts.

The Walnut Hills park, located at Mathers and Altoona streets, was one of 25 parks to receive a total of $275,000 in grants through the Sprite Sparks Parks Program, an online contest coordinated with the National Recreation and Parks Association to rehabilitate basketball courts at city parks and recreation centers.

Work will include a new drainage system, resurfacing and relining. The project should be completed by November.

DeHart Playground is named for DeHart Hubbard, who became the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event when he won the running long jump at the 1924 Paris games. Hubbard was one of the original staff members of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and served the department between 1927 and 1941.

An estimated 1,500 people use the courts annually.

Previous reading on BC:
Walnut Hills park in running for national grant (3/29/12)