One of the first reclamation projects after Holly Square burned down in 2008 has run its course: The basketball courts are making way for an elementary school in Park Hill.
The snap-in courts soon will be housed at the Smiley campus that holds the McAuliffe International School, 2540 Holly St. The school is about eight blocks south of Holly Square, at 33rd Avenue between Holly and Hudson streets.
in the Hope Center at the north end of Holly Square, will break ground on a new building next month where the courts currently stand.
The basketball courts are operated by the Impact Empowerment Group, a gang outreach organization formerly known as Prodigal Son. The group regularly hosts basketball tournaments and other events on the courts.
Haroun Cowans, executive director of Impact Empowerment Group, said those events will continue at the new location.
“In our agreement we’ve been very firm that we still have access to the courts, that the community still has access to the courts,” Cowans said.
The courts were always meant to be temporary and while Cowans said that Impact Empowerment managed the courts, the land is owned by the Urban Land Conservancy. ULC purchased , a rival of the Bloods who have been known to frequent the square.
Cowans said he hopes to have an event when the courts are moved to let the community know they are still around and still will be available. He said he’s looking forward to working with the McAuliffe school to plan programming for the courts.
“We’ve seen (the courts) as a catalytic transitioning piece in how we continue to engage community in a positive way,” Cowans said. “We want that to still be the case no matter where they go in Park Hill.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or @joe_vacc
