By By CHRIST PROKOS
Staff Writer
To some, it’s a historic place of harmony where people of all races and creeds from far and wide gather to showcase their skills in pickup basketball games.
To others, it’s a disgrace to the city, a haven for thugs and drugs and downright disrespectful to the nearby residents who only want to rest in peace.
With an assessment from its Recreation Advisory Committee, the Washington City Council will ultimately decide which prevails and what, if anything, should be done about the 15th Street basketball court next to Oakdale Cemetery.
The issue was brought before the council by former Beaufort County Commissioner Mickey Cochran during the council’s Aug. 23 meeting. The council referred it to the Recreation Advisory Committee for analysis and advice.
The Recreation Advisory Committee collected public input and crafted a recommendation at the Peterson Building on Monday. Based on what the committee members heard, the verdict on the court is “not guilty.”
Washington Police Chief Mick Reed, who researched crime incidents in the area over the past 24 months, said, “We have no record of anything directly attributed to activity at the basketball court.”
Paul Funeral Home’s Derik Davis, who spoke with all of the funeral home’s funeral directors dating back to 1985, said, “We have never, ever had an issue with any basketball players at the 15th Street courts. We have never had any noise issues. We have never had any issues of disrespect. If we thought for a moment that there was any issue, we would have been here a long time ago.”
Betty Randolph, representing Randolph Funeral Home on North Bonner Street, said, “I do not know the history of how the basketball court ended up in that particular spot, but what I do see is evidence that that basketball court often does more for bringing our different community and people together than any one other place that I visit on a frequent basis.”
John Wehrenberg, who has been meeting with his chess club every Monday night for the past 10 years at the recreation building adjacent to the court, said, “I haven’t seen the things that other people said. All I have ever seen is basketball players playing basketball. They’re very respectful of each other. I’ve never seen a fight out there. I’ve never heard any bad language out there.”
Philip Mobley, director of the Washington Parks and Recreation Department, offered his appraisal.
Parking complaints were resolved with additional parking along the service road. A portable toilet has been maintained at the court for eight years to dispatch complaints about people urinating behind the building, he noted.
“Over the past 35 years, I have witnessed this area of 15th Street and the court,” Mobley told the committee. “It’s the best place in our community for race relations, the very best place that we have. People can’t ride by without seeing people enjoying life to the fullest out there. The cost to operate the court is very, very minimum compared to the total Parks and Recreation maintenance budget of $435,000 a year. Usually, guys who play help by removing limbs themselves, putting trash away, buying and putting up their own nets for the courts.”
When asked about the number of complaints he has received concerning the court, Mobley’s reply was certain.
“One citizen has complained twice,” Mobley said. “Once to me and once to (the) council. I’ve received a couple of phone calls. They didn’t leave a name, but they were in favor of the court staying and they were not in favor of the person who wanted it to go away.”
Some committee members with relatives buried at Oakdale Cemetery spoke on behalf of the deceased.
“I just enjoy seeing all of you guys out there playing basketball,” committee member Audrey Woolard told the audience. “My husband’s laying out there, my mother’s out there, and I know they’d have no problem with it. He loved sports, and he would love to see you guys out there.”
Ultimately, the committee unanimously approved a motion to advise the City Council to keep the 15th Street basketball court as is and that it remain a community collaborative with open communication between the players, funeral directors, families and the city.
The City Council could make a decision on the issue in October.