Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza joins elected officials, community leaders, and members of the Providence Police Department as they announce the return of Midnight Basketball to the Providence Parks. Photo by Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
For the first time in many years, the city of Providence is teaming up with a number of partners to bring back Midnight Basketball to parks across the city.
“This is more than just basketball,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. “This is a channel to provide constructive, safe, and productive opportunities for our young people.”
The announcement comes after another violent weekend in Providence where two homicides took place.
The Midnight basketball leagues will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights starting on July 7. Games will be held at Bucklin Park, Davis Park, Davey Lopes and Fox Point. The cost to play is $25 per player and games will start at 9 p.m.
“We are targeting the 18 plus youth that would usually just be hanging around and with an idle mind we all know what happens,” said community leader Kobi Dennis. The league is powered by the City of Providence, Providence Parks & Recreation, Unified Solutions “US” at the Salvation Army, the Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Providence Sky Chiefs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, NAACP Providence Chapter, Institute for the Study & Practice of Non-Violence, OIC of Rhode Island, Vnators, Providence Fire Department, Providence Police Department, and the Rhode Island State Police.
In addition to sponsoring the league, the Providence Sky Chiefs General Manager Tony Lopes announced the MVP of the summer league will be invited to the open tryouts for the Sky Chiefs.
Registration for the league starts on May 28 and ends on June 26. For more information can be found on the city’s website.
