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Our Story
The quaint Fairlawn Park on the corner of Homestead and Woodbine in Waterbury, CT was embroiled in controversy when $250,000 in grant money became available to renovate the grounds. Some area residents, annoyed by the litter and vandalism, suggested that the basketball court attracted a criminal element. They wanted the court out of the re-design.
Waterbury attorney Joe Summa, who grew up in the Fairlawn neighborhood, was asked by the area's kids to help them keep their court. Summa, a former All-American at Wesleyan University and a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, played basketball at the park and at Sacred Heart High School. He still goes back from time to time to play some hoops with the area kids. Summa suggested that they should take an active role in cleaning the place up.
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Summa helped the youngsters form the Fairlawn Park Basketball Association. All members signed a pledge to be respectful of neighbors, to obey park rules and to keep the park presentable. He brought in the community police officer, Joe Padua, to talk to the kids. He signed up firefighters at nearby Engine 5 to the Fairlawn Park Basketball Association, and he drew in sponsors who pledged financial support to supplement city resources.
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Even Waterbury Police Superintendent Neil O'Leary came to the Park Board meeting to endorse saving the court.
By unanimous vote, the Park Board voted to keep a basketball court as part of the permanent plans for Fairlawn. Today, the kids continue to keep their promise to the Fairlawn residents, keeping the language and court clean, while playing basketball and having fun.
The Fairlawn Park Basketball Association has become an AAU affiliated Sec. 501(c) non-profit organization whose purpose is to preserve the neighborhood atmosphere in the park and provide athletic, educational and social opportunities for neighborhood kids.
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