Yes, I was the one who nominated Herman C. Michael Park's court for this grant

OK, so here is the background on this, in case anyone wonders. 

Yes, once upon a time I was the gym supervisor of the John T. Brannen Building of Herman C. Michael Park in Oconee County, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I pushed a broom around the court and checked people's IDs to make sure they were not coming in from Athens-Clarke (or Morgan or Madison or Oglethorpe as people would travel for new courts). We would often see the Carlos Strong - Terrell Bell Cedar Shoals McDonald's All American types to come in and politely slam on our then pristine new indoor courts. Carlos now has a Sunday basketball academy across the street.

Outside even then there was a crumbling court adjacent to the big indoor building. The double rims were unfriendly and the court was poorly marked.  There are crack marks, pock marks, peeled paint and general disrepair and maybe even some grass or weeds growing in the gaps. People barely played there back in the day, and I think it is even more largely ignored  now. Sometimes when folks are waiting for a picnic or softball game to commence they might bust out a basketball and bounce it to avoid the cracks on the court. 

Now having been employed, and having volunteered multiple times in multiple sports for the Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department, I was happy to try and do something about it in a behind-the-scenes, don't tell anybody or ask any permission kind of way. I took my son and our neighbor Seth Marbut to Herman C. Michael's' park about a year ago, digitally recorded them playing against a father/son (?) combination, and entered the park in a Sprite contest to get a new outdoor basketball court. 

I did not even enter the video I think, but like somethings on the interwebs, the contest gained footage with a couple of well placed PR honchos, and went viral as they say. The Herman C. entry garnered enough votes to make the cut in the contest and the powers that be at OCPRD had the foresight and vision to figured out that a new court at a new location would be best served where the old pair of tennis courts are. Thank you to John Gentry and Whitney Byce for being so nice during this long and bureaucratic process. It takes someone with military discipline and dedication to get this accomplished. Thank you for serving our country and county.

There are several factors contributing to the success of this project:

First off, there will be preexisting fence (know why they call basketball players cagers?) and lights around the court (although obviously they may have to be dismantled or temporarily taken down in the construction process - $35K does not go that long a way in the grand scheme of public works projects). Second the old tennis courts are cracked and basically out of commission especially when compared to the outstanding new courts both behind the John T. Brannen building and across the street at Oconee Veterans Park. Third money is tight so any grant is welcome and I appreciate County Attorney Daniel Haygood working to make it so we can adapt the old tennis courts to become a new and better basketball court. 

My only request is that the architects include is a three point line on the courts (now that they are uniform dimensions for men's and women's basketball - first season ever for that!) - and try to use the kind "single" or traditional rims instead of the current cruel "double" rims welded on (I know they have them like this to withstand the largest of rim hangers/climbers), but that might be a purchasing/procurement problem. 

*** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR NOV. 16, 2011 ***

HERMAN C. MICHAEL GETS A SLAM DUNK WITH SPRITE SPARK PARKS

Sprite Donates $35,000 to Refresh Basketball Court at Oconee County Parks and Recreation Facility
WHAT: Coca-Cola Refreshments, on behalf of Sprite Spark Parks Project, will present a $35,000 donation to Oconee County Parks and Recreation to refresh the basketball court at Herman C. Michael Park. Thanks to the support of the community, Herman C. Michael Park was one of Sprite Spark Park’s seven grand prizes winners in a nationwide vote earlier this year.

During the event, members of the Recreation for Every Child (R.E.C) After-School Program, along with parents and community leaders, will participate in fitness drills.

Sprite Spark Parks Project is a multi-year initiative to positively impact neighborhood parks in communities across the country. By investing $2 million into building or revamping basketball courts, community spaces, playgrounds and athletic fields in 2011, an estimated one million young people will have greater access to recreational spaces where they can be active and creative.

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011
4 – 4:30 p.m. – Press Conference and Check Presentation

WHERE: Herman C. Michael Park
1051 Elder Road, Bishop, GA 30621

BACKGROUND: Sprite partnered with LeBron James in February to kick off the first phase of the program, which focuses on improving basketball courts. After a nationwide vote, 21 parks and recreation centers, including Herman C. Michael Park, received grants to refresh their courts.

In the program’s second phase, Sprite helped restore outdoor parks and community spaces in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity International®. Families mailed in green tabs found on specially marked Sprite and Sprite Zero™ 12-oz cans. For every green Sprite tab redeemed, the brand donated 10 cents to Habitat for Humanity with a guaranteed donation of $250,000 and a maximum of $500,000.

The third phase, Sprite Spark Parks for Schools, launched on July 18 to give schools a chance to win one of 25 grants worth $25,000 for playground or athletic field renovations. Parents and community members helped their school by entering My Coke Rewards codes found on specially marked Sprite packaging by Sept. 30.

CONTACT: Sarah Cannon Whitney Byce
Coca-Cola Refreshments Oconee County Parks and Recreation
678-224-2724, sacannon@coca-cola.com
706-769-3965, wbyce@oconee.ga.us

MEDIA: This is not a public event, so please notify Sarah Cannon or Whitney Byce to RSVP your outlet.