New park program highlights hoops in neighborhoods

The hoops weren’t overlooked for long.

And that was the whole idea behind a new summer program from the Sioux Falls Park & Recreation Department called Hoop There It Is, which aims to bring new awareness to neighborhood basketball courts.

It definitely worked at some of the first sites, where kids gathered in droves earlier this month at Galway Park on the city’s west side.

“We looked geographically throughout the city, making sure we had some events” throughout Sioux Falls, said Jackie Nelson, administrative manager for Parks & Rec. “We also looked at what neighborhoods maybe aren’t aware there’s a basketball court there, bringing attention to certain parks and the amenities that we offer in each of them.”

The goal was to create an accessible program within walking or biking distance for students, she added.

Hoop There It Is includes multiple basketball challenges, with prizes and bragging rights awarded at the end of the night as winners are crowned “basketball king or queen” of the neighborhood.

It’s a free program, requires no registration and is geared toward those age 10 to 17 — and the adults in their lives.

“The middle school-age group is a great target market for us right now. Part of it is that they aren’t old enough to drive, so we really want to bring programs into their neighborhood within walking distance,” Nelson said. “We (asked) what we can do to bring programming into neighborhoods so they can easily walk to it and have fun with friends.”

Activities at Hoop There It Is include 3-point shootouts, dribbling challenges, spot shots and the Mikan Drill. Two or three staff members run the program, with additional seasonal staff ”ready to go” if the event needs more help.

Nelson said the Parks Department plans to invite older high school or local college basketball players to join the event and work with the students in the following summers.

Here’s where to find Hoop There It Is the rest of the summer, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.:

• July 30: Spellerberg Park, 1601 S. Western Ave.
• Aug. 8: Emerson Park, 515 S. Lake Ave.
• Aug. 20: Terrace Park upper level, 1100 W. Fourth St.
• Aug. 22: Thelin Park, 3700 N. Galaxy Lane