Hoopbus, supported by the Neighborhood Safety Initiatives team, refurbished its first court in Brooklyn serving the Brownsville community - The Seven Stars Court.

The court represents legacy. Generations of Brownsville community members sat around a table to discuss what they wanted represented in the central focal point of their neighborhod. Through two meetings Hoopbus’ team designed a tribute for the seven world champion boxers - Mike Tyson, Zab Judah, Riddick Bowe, Shannon Briggs, Daniel Jacobs, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Alabama Davis - who hailed from Brownsville. Each star symbolizes the importance of homecoming and the responsibility to inspire those who continue to chase their dreams.

To celebrate the new space Hoopbus hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 28th, in congruence with the end of a 53 year Knicks Championship drought.

Jammel Thompson (middle) and Brownsville Community Members

“This project felt special for many reasons, it was Hoopbus’ first court project in Brooklyn, and we got to utilize an experimental painting technique. The most significant part was witnessing how deeply meaningful the court is to the community and how much they embraced and appreciated our work together. ”

— Jeremy John Kaplan (Project Manager)

Community celebration post ribbon-cutting

Tilden residents gathered on the sun-soaked court to compete and celebrate each other. Jammel Thompson, a leader in the Tilden community, spoke openly about the grief and pain caused by gun violence in their neighborhood. In that way, the court stands as more than a place to play basketball - it’s a symbol of hope and a brighter future for Brownsville.