New public 76ers basketball court open in north Wilmington

There's significant buzz around the Philadelphia 76ers this season, and nowhere was that more apparent than at a new Sixers-themed basketball court in Wilmington.Eastlake Park on West 30th and Madison streets in north Wilmington got a makeover, mostly paid for by the 76ers Youth Foundation. The new red-white-and-blue court is one of dozens of similar ones in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, but this is the first in Delaware.The Sixers already have a considerable footprint in Wilmington; their G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, play in Chase Fieldhouse.The Sixers team, however, had a game in Indianapolis on Oct. 28, so there were no players or coaches at the ribbon-cutting that night. The event included words from Mayor John Carney and others who work for the Sixers' Youth Foundation, which funded $150,000 for the project, according to city Communications Director Caroline Klinger. The city covered the rest to get the project to its total $188,000 cost.She said there was "definitely mutual interest and enthusiasm here."76ers influence grows in Wilmington How the Philadelphia 76ers are finding another way to leave their mark on WilmingtonThe basketball court is just one part of the revamped park. The plan came together in early 2025, and the process began during the late Mayor Mike Purzycki's administration. Carney recalled playing basketball at the park in his youth, and was excited about the ribbon-cutting."This is an unbelievably happy day," he said.He was followed by council member Alex Hackett, who spoke for council member Shané Darby at the event. He and other city officials said she worked for six years on the park's restoration, which went beyond just a new basketball court. There is also a new playground space and a new pickleball court next to the brightly colored basketball court.The Sixers Youth Foundation's logo is at center court, and that arm of the organization was responsible for the funding of this and other courts in the area. The foundation's Executive Director Leslie Walker was emotional when giving her remarks and was grateful for the help."This is beyond my wildest expectations," she said.A clinic for children to learn basketball skills followed the ribbon cutting, where dozens of kids ran back and forth on the asphalt with the motivation of Delaware Blue Coats coaches and the mascots of both the Coats and the Sixers.The park is open to visitors from dawn to dusk, just like the rest of the city's parks.Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New public 76ers basketball court open in north Wilmington