Where is rucker park in harlem

Most summer nights, though, the court is occupied by unknowns—the great majority of them African-American—ranging in age from middle-school to well into their 20s. Spectators sit on aluminum bleachers to take in the action on muggy nights as a sideline MC chatters through the PA system.

A few players here will go on to big careers in college or even the NBA ; the farthest most of them will get is this court itself and a momentary chance to leave an indelible imprint on the eyeballs of everyone who has shown up to watch.

Behind all this, Rucker Park is a living laboratory where the disparate strands of basketball have met and played off each other: the loosely structured team game as invented by James Naismith with the underlying goal of teaching teamwork and discipline ; and the explosive, improvisational style developed by African-American teams such as the Harlem Globetrotters.

The influence of Naismith is readily seen with the man responsible for it all, Holcombe Rucker, who was born in Harlem in and grew up poor. In high school, he became a star basketball player before he dropped out to join the Army during World War II.

He returned to the city in a serious man, and found work as a playground supervisor with the City Parks Department. Rucker also coached basketball at St. Phillips, an Episcopal church in Harlem. When he noticed that a lot of kids had nothing to do in the summer, he started an outdoor basketball tournament in His goals were straightforward: He thought that through basketball he could provide structure, instill discipline and keep kids off the streets.

The tournament was held in its early years at a playground at th Street and Seventh Avenue. Rucker arrived early in the morning, took a seat on a park bench and oversaw the games for the next 15 hours. In the meantime, he mentored kids, checking their homework and exhorting them to do well in school. Over the years he helped hundreds get college scholarships. At the time, Harlem was poor, segregated and shut out of the post-war economic boom that the rest of the country was enjoying.

Another member suggested that the union also fund renovations to Rucker Park's playground and landscaping, which are also in disrepair.

All told, the work will "reestablish the court as a state-of-the-art basketball venue," the city said in its presentation. Know someone who'd like Harlem news in their inbox? Invite them to subscribe to Harlem Patch. Nick Garber , Patch Staff. Reply 1. An early rendering of the renovations planned for the Rucker Park court, a legendary street basketball venue.

Work will begin on Aug. Find out what's happening in Harlem with free, real-time updates from Patch. Let's go! Photos presented by the Parks Department show the damaged bleachers, pavement and backboard at Rucker Park.

Learn More. J" Erving was among several basketball legends who turned out Saturday afternoon for the ribbon cutting and reopening of the newly renovated Greg Marius Court at Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem.

The legendary Dr. JuliusIrving pic. The court's pavement was leveled and repainted, the baskets were replaced, the bleachers redone and a new state-of-the-art scoreboard installed. This is probably the most historical park in the world.