Newly Refurbished Basketball Courts Reflect North Fork 'Generosity'

LAUREL, NY — A ribbon-cutting ceremony recently marked a new chapter for the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District's refurbished basketball courts on Aldrich Lane.

Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti officially reopened the basketball courts; the event signified the culmination of a restoration project that occurred during the school year. And the project was a testament to the love of a caring North Fork community, officials said.

"We have a long list of needed facilities and grounds work that must be addressed to maintain the daily operations for our students," Petretti said. “When the courts became unsafe and in need of repairs, we reached out to the community for support. I was amazed and grateful at the community’s response and generosity. Within a few short months, we were able to raise the funds needed to make the necessary improvements to safely reopen the courts for the community to once again enjoy. Thank you to everyone who made this possible."

In 1999, community partners joined together to build the outdoor basketball courts, which were completed in 2001, the district said. For more than 20 years, the school district maintained the courts, which were used for fundraisers, individual leisure activities and team games.

However, the district added, due to "progressive deterioration", the courts became unsafe to remain open and needed to be completely resurfaced and painted, with all the backboards and hoops replaced.

"Once again, the community came together and generously contributed toward the funds needed to support the restoration project," the district said. "Thanks to the partnership between the school district and the community, the basketball courts are once again open and available for community use."