By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Plans are in motion to give students and neighborhood kids who play basketball outside of Lewis Lemon School a new, better and more colorful court to play on.

The school, 1993 Mulberry St., will get new hoops for its outdoor basketball court and a new playing surface, as well as a new surface for the running and walking track that circles the park just east of the school building.

The colorful kicker to the project will be a mural painted on the court.

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Tamir Bell, a 19-year-old Democratic precinct committeeman who has used that role to advocate for the neighborhood, said he decided the improvements were needed after being at the court with his brother and sister about a year ago.

“I saw how the court condition was and thought it was unacceptable,” Bell said of the cracks creeping across the asphalt court and track and the rusty patches on some of the backboards. “Kids play out here each and every day, not only from the neighborhood but from the school, and I believe they should have a quality playground and court to play on.”

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Bell started making calls to the city of Rockford, Rockford Park District, Rockford Public Schools and the Rockford Area Arts Council to move the project forward.

On Tuesday, the Rockford School Board approved its part of the partnership by hiring Rock Road Companies to resurface the court and the track at a cost of $128,300.

“It’s all about really maximizing the enthusiasm that Tamir is showing and also the city of Rockford, and our district’s commitment to make sure we do everything to improve the neighborhood and the campus,” Rockford Public Schools Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said. “We have need across our city and across our school district, but when we see an opportunity to enhance the campus — particularly when we have volunteers like Tamir who want to make a huge impact on that part of our community — the least we can do as a school district is help them amplify the impact of their investment.”

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The Rockford Area Arts Council is working to determine the scope and cost of the mural project, according to Mary McNamara-Bernsten, executive director of the council. It’s working with artist Brett Whitacre, who has handled multiple murals here and across the country, on the project.

Bell is working to raise money privately to pay for the cost of the mural.

The park where the court and track is located was the original Sunset Park, and the Rockford Park District has run a summer program there since the school opened in 1993, Jarrett said.

“Not only do students use it year-round, but it’s a really strong neighborhood asset as well and a great partnership with the Park District,” Jarrett said.

Bell noted the city is also investing in the area with new sidewalks being installed from Central Avenue to Johnston Avenue for students walking to school.

The court project is expected to be complete by the end of summer.

“Having been able to collaborate with the city, park district, arts council and school district to get this project through is exciting,” he said. “I am hopeful that bringing these organizations and leaders together to renovate a space in our neighborhood is important in the efforts to creating a better community not only from development but pride and culture through art.”

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