San Antonio Neighborhood is Combating Crime by Shooting Hoops and Revitalizing Parks

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A Summer 3 on 3 Throwdown basketball tournament, hosted byThe Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association in Eastside San Antonio, TX is one of many initiatives to revitalize a neglected neighborhood.

In addition to the physical activity itself, the goal of the tournament is to get kids off the street and bring the community together. It is a precursor to a Midnight Basketball league, which began in 2012 with the Eastside Promise Neighborhood Grant and was recently expanded.

In a city (63.2% Latino) home to the NBA’s All-Time Winningest Team-San Antonio SPURS-basketball could serve as a culturally relevant vehicle to keep kids active and healthy, as well as off the street. Therefore, access to safe parks with basketball courts is crucial. However, the two parks in Dignowity Hill are bisected by a street, which diminishes the potential of both parks.

The Dignowity Park Project was created in 2015 by Public Space East, San Antonio Parks Foundation, and the community to unite the two segregated parks and create an inclusive and beautiful place for the entire city. Public Space East has gathered more than $190,000 of in-kind donations and hopes to receive funding from the 2017 Municipal Bond program.

Often, Latinos lack access to safe places to walk, bike, and play, thus are disproportionately at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

In San Antonio, where 30% of the Latino population is younger than 18, compared to 19% of non-Latinos, safe, inclusive places to play are critical to reduce the burden of social, economic, and health consequences associated with inequity.

Learn more about these efforts in San Antonio here.

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