BED-STUY, NY — The people have spoken, and they want renovations at Bed-Stuy’s famed “Soul in the Hole” basketball court.
Raymond Bush Playground, which sits on Marcus Garvey Boulevard between Madison and Monroe streets, won a competition for a free renovation including crack refill, resurfacing, recoloring and new backboards and rims.
The court, made famous in a 1997 documentary about American street basketball, won 52.25 percent of the vote — meaning over 20,000 New Yorkers rallied for the court.
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“I envision a beautiful park where we can run tournaments,” said Martin Brewer, who owns neighboring vinyl store Black Star Vinyl. “There’s just so much potential for community building in the park.”
The remodel will be completely financed by three basketball-focused organizations: Local Hoops, Project Backboard and Five-Star Basketball.
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And organizers hope the court will be hoops-ready by the end of 2023, according to Dan Peterson, Director of Project Backboard.
“I think I see it as being like a community hub,” Brewer said.
The court had a narrow lead for most of the competition over a court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Another court in New York City, Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, took last place with less than one percent of the vote.
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