The New York Liberty isn’t done painting the town seafoam green just yet.
The newly-minted WNBA champs’ home borough of Brooklyn received a much-needed upgrade to a delipidated basketball court in East New York last month, all thanks to an assist from the team’s co-owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai.
“By upgrading the basketball courts here at Breukelen Ballfields, we’re ensuring that New Yorkers of all ages, and particularly young people, have an engaging space to connect with their neighbors and have some safe fun,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said in a statement.
The renovation is part of a $1.8 million investment from the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation’s Social Justice Fund, which aims to revamp recreation spaces in neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence.
The fund has already transformed three other parks in Brooklyn, including the Jackie Robinson Playground in Crown Heights, Fox Playground in Flatlands and Sunset Park.
The NYPD’s 75th precinct, which encompasses East New York and Cypress Hills, has seen a 2.3% increase in shooting incidents year-over-year, compared to a 2% drop citywide during the same time period. To date, the Brooklyn precinct has reported 45 shootings in 2024.
“I’m so grateful to our partners at the Social Justice Fund, the Nets, and the Liberty for making this renovation possible, and for their investment of almost $2 million to upgrade basketball courts throughout Brooklyn, focusing on neighborhoods with acute levels of gun violence,” Donoghue said.
The 16-acre park was “overdue for an upgrade,” according to several Google Reviews of the greenspace.
“Very dirty … garbage all around,” one reviewer wrote.
“Dusty area with low lighting,” another added.
The park received other upgrades earlier this year, including a new turf field, an asphalt play space, a new walking track and more, per the Brooklyn Eagle. A full renovation of playground equipment is forthcoming.
Through the city’s Adopt-a-Park program, the East New York courts now feature a repaved surface complete with the New York Liberty’s infamous seagreen color as well as new lines, new drainage to prevent flooding, a new basketball stanchion with lexan backboards and new hoops with nets.
New fences, benches, an accessible bottle-filling station and a three-tier bleachers for spectators were also added to the court, according to a Parks rep.
The Liberty’s owners also own the Brooklyn Nets — which touts its own logo alongside the Liberty’s at the upgraded Breukelen Ballfields court.
Students from nearby Fresh Creek School P.S. 325, and their principal Jesse Fields, joined NYC Parks officials for the unveiling last week.
“Athletics can transform both the body and spirit and build positive habits and lifelong friendships – that’s why we are so committed to establishing a community-first basketball experience across the borough,” Wu Tsai said in a statement.
“From clinics in our local schools to refurbishing courts in our playgrounds and parks, we are committed to fostering an environment that inspires and connects Brooklynites to one another.”
