VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — This Christmas, people in and around the Friendship Village neighborhood got a brand new basketball court.
Councilmember Aaron Rouse announced the project back in July saying, "There’s only one way in and one way out of Friendship Village, so these kids are essentially landlocked, this is all they have. This is a start to really attract the youth to positive career paths... make sure they stay away from trouble."
When the project was first announced, there was a lot of excitement in the neighborhood.
Two neighbors said they played "curb ball" in the neighborhood and are excited about a new court.
Another neighbor said this type of recreation is "what we need in communities to uplift kids and let them know there's always a future."
By late December, the project was complete. Residents got a place to play and hang out just in time for Christmas.
Even Rouse, who grew up in the area, has taken advantage of the new court. On Monday, he shared a video of himself on Twitter showing a boy how to shoot a layup.
"Just in time for Christmas," Rouse said. "A present to the community."
Rouse said there are also plans to install a playground for kids, in hopes of keeping the youth active and out of the streets.
"This is only the beginning," he said.