Nearly three months ago, one of the backboards at the famed Venice Beach basketball court was shattered and broken. Today, it remains hoopless and empty. Some days when I see it, I think about the poor economy, city deficits. and crippling bureaucracy.

These courts are a special place for a lot of people. People come from all around the world to watch and play basketball here. There are people who wake up every weekend filled with anticipation and drive from all parts of L.A. to play here, to meet with their friends, to exercise, and to share their stories, to relieve their stress from a hard week, to have a little sunshine on their faces. The Venice beach basketball courts are a unique place where people from all walks of life and backgrounds come together. People grow up there, are mentored there. Lessons are passed down from older generations and there is tight sense of community that cannot be measured.

This backboard, sitting empty takes away from each of those things, with less people getting to play and participate, games can turn ugly as there is more urgency to win and stay on the court since there is limited opportunity to play. More arguments and less people interested in watching or visiting. I've talked ot the Park and Recreational director and he explaned the process in which to get a new backboard installed here. The Venice beach basketball courts are considered the same as any other public park in the city of L.A. and funds are distributed as issues arise and basically each park takes a number and goes to the end of the line. What other basketball court generates the interest, the tourists, the publicity that  the Venice beach basketball courts do? What other basketball park generates the additional sales for local businesses and tax revenue for the city?

Please sign this petition to send a message to The Los Angeles Parks department and the city of Los Angeles that we need to use common sense in determining our parks priorities and get a backboard installed at the Venice Beach Basketball courts by May, for the summer so that more people can enjoy these famous courts.

Thank you!

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