New Community Basketball Court Opens In New London

NEW LONDON, CT – Mayor Michael E. Passero and Police Chief Peter Reichard announced Wednesday the completion of a newly constructed Community Basketball Court for area youth at the Truman Street Police Substation. A press conference and unveiling is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m.

According to a news release, Passero and Patrick Green, CEO of (L&M) Yale New Haven Health, shared the significance of a public/private partnership which is providing the New London youth with a community basketball court.

Passero said he is “highly appreciative of the genuine commitment of community outreach and the generosity of the contribution by Yale New Haven Health in building bridges in the community and especially between the youth and the police."

“We are happy to partner with our host city and its residents to identify ways to address social determinants of health," Green said in a release. "This project provides recreational resources for children and youth in a central New London neighborhood and is a demonstration of L+M Hospital’s support for the community.”

“The grant from Yale New Haven Health allowed the department to upgrade the bland paved parking lot to a fully painted basketball court completed by Hiding Seal Coating, in the distinctive New London Whalers color scheme,” Reichard said in a release. "With the generosity of the contributions from Yale New Haven Health the exterior and interior of the police substation were upgraded to allow this facility to be more effectively utilized for small community events and hopefully afterschool programs for local youth.”

Reichard also said he was “pleased and impressed with how the community and the New London Police Department worked so diligently together to raise the necessary funds required for the wonderfully newly renovated space."

Reichard extended special thanks to Texas Road House Restaurant, the Jay Pro Corporation and the staff of the New London Police Department and New London Public Works.

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