The phrase “heaven is a playground,” coined in the 1970s by a Chicago sportswriter, might have lost some of its impact over the years, but playgrounds and gymnasiums still offer safe havens for athletic youth to play the games they love, and s
The phrase “heaven is a playground,” coined in the 1970s by a Chicago sportswriter, might have lost some of its impact over the years, but playgrounds and gymnasiums still offer safe havens for athletic youth to play the games they love and stay away from the pitfalls that await them in the city streets.
One of the premier places for young basketball players to keep hooping all spring and summer is the Garfield Park High School Basketball League on the West Side. The league is entering its 19th year, and if this summer is similar to past years, there should be some great basketball games played with very little in the way of negative drama and crime to mar the proceedings.
The Garfield Park League has built quite a reputation over the past two decades. Many of the top high school programs participate, and the list of notable basketball players who’ve graced the hardwood of the park’s Golden Dome field house in recent years is impressive; Luther Head (NBA) and Will Bynum (NBA) played there, as did recent college standouts Patrick Beverly (Arkansas) and Sherron Collins (Kansas). But the most important aspect of the program is not the basketball talent; it’s the safety and positivity of the overall atmosphere, which is a result of careful planning by the league’s organizers.
“My focus and the reason for this league is to give the kids an opportunity to play the game they love, hone in on their skills and help combat the juvenile delinquency and crime that we have here in the city,” said park supervisor Jim Hobson.
And since the league’s inception in 1990, there have never been any major incidents involving gangs, guns, or drugs.
“No shootings, no gang problems, no drugs, no alcohol, no fights – none of that,” Hobson said. “Bad intentions are checked at the door. When you come into this building, you must be ready to focus on what you’re here for, which is the game of basketball.”
Hobson has been with the park district for over 30 years and is a no-nonsense type of guy, with combat experience in Vietnam. The disciplined attitude he developed during wartime has been part of his success working with youth.
The kids don’t always like what he’s about, but they do respect him, said Marshall high school coach Albert Sharp.
“Jim is a hard – straight line person. His military background comes out at times, but our kids need that,” said Sharp. “They need someone to instill discipline in their life. Some kids might not like him, but they have to respect what he does … and that’s the bottom line.”
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