Sprite, Raley's to Drop Assist on Fair Oaks Park Basketball Courts

Throughout the month of April residents can help the  win $10,000 to help renovate the worn out basketball courts at Fair Oaks Park.

The 29-acre community park includes the McMillan Center, District Maintenance Facility. Fair Oaks Park has the District’s highest user rates due to the large number of amenities and the location of the park next to a major intersection (Fair Oaks Boulevard and Madison Avenue), said District Recreation Director Katy Albers.

"The community surrounding the park consists of mainly families with children as a result of the park being surrounded by homes on three sides," said Albers in an e-mail.

The court is located next to the skate park in the upper parking lot area between the Softball Fields and . The courts were installed on a blacktop surface with the court lines painted directly on the blacktop.

"There is not an actual basketball specific surface for the court," Albers said. "In addition, the court would need new basketball hoops and backboards to fully upgrade the court to a usable basketball facility."

Alber said the money would be used to install an actual basketball court surface to play on and also new hoops and backboards. If there is remaining money she said the district would like to install some benches and additional landscaping items to beautify the area.

"We would like to provide a more usable and safe basketball facility for the community, most specifically the children in the community," Albers said. "There are many organizations and schools that visit our park regularly including, Northridge Elementary, local daycare’s, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church and community partner groups."

With the help of the National Recreation Parks Association, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people, Sprite and Raley’s established the program to revamp basketball courts for a total of $20,000 in grants. Each of the selected courts will receive funding based on the number of votes they earn through April 25. The first place-winner will receive $10,000; second place and third place will each receive $5,000.

“Our goal is to improve communities in inspired ways, and we’re partnering with Raley’s and local residents so they can lead us to basketball courts where we can make the biggest impact,” said William H. O’Brien, senior vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Refreshments, Northwest region. “By generating support for these critically important play spaces, we’re working as a team to ensure our local youth have safe, fun places where they can get together in a positive, active way.”

Voting Details:

• The deadline is April 25.
• You can vote once every day until April 25.
• For information check out the website: https://cocacola.promo.eprize.com/sspraleys/