Basketball programs needed in Forest Park
First I would like to thank everyone for bringing up the subject of basketball in Forest Park (“Hoop dreaming,” Oct. 17). This has long been an issue for kids and parents in this community. As a father, five years ago, I and two other fathers started our own basketball program, Showtime Basketball Club, to ensure our sons and other children with a passion for the game would have an opportunity to play basketball somewhere besides the Park District league, and in the summer there wasn’t an outdoor or indoor basketball program in Forest Park, Oak Park, or River Forest.
There are adequate fields and plenty of support by business owners for baseball and soccer but nothing for basketball. Let’s not use the bad element excuse anymore; Maywood and Bellwood have inside and outdoor courts that they have minimal incidents at; therefore, supervised basketball courts would not be a big issue.
To close, all of our sons and the majority of the players in our program have gone on to play high school basketball (St. Joe’s, Fenwick, OPRF, Proviso East, and St. Pat’s) just to name a few schools. They also play at a high level and on the AAU circuit. Please let’s bring the game of basketball back to Forest Park and always remember, respect the game.
Larry Gamble, Donny Davis
Forest Park and Chicago
Retirement wishes
Best wishes to Kathy and Jim. Enjoy your retirement. Good luck and continued success to Brian and Matt.
Tom Brouder
Elmwood Park
