Lakewood Indoor Basketball Program a Nonstarter

After being given the green light from the Board of Education last month, the has received far less interest than originally anticipated. 

Lakewood Recreation commissioner Erin Fach had hoped that anywhere from 80 to 200 adults and students would join the program, but one week after its launch, only two people have signed up. 

And since the program only runs through August 11, residents and board president Matt Markling aired frustrations and wanted answers at Monday’s regular school board meeting at Grant Elementary. 

“I, outside of one communication I received, have not seen publicized anywhere, I mean, any information about the open gym,” Lakewood recreation coach Stephanie Toole said. “I have three LHS graduates, they have received no e-mails or facebook notifications. 

“I have a junior at Lakewood who plays basketball, he has not been notified through his coach or brought home any communication about this opportunity to play.” 

When asked about the advertising, Fach said he blasted e-mails out to 3,200 people, posted fliers at both city pools and spread the word among peers. 

He also said the Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee pledged that it would encourage 50 to 60 players to sign up for the indoor program who, as of yet, have not. 

Markling said he appreciated Fach “expeditiously” getting the program off the ground, but said he wasn’t convinced that the e-mails were sent out because he didn’t receive one. 

Fach assured the board that they were dispersed and promised to send out another surge of advertising to get people interested and playing in the Lakewood City Schools’ gyms.