Bronx City Council Member Kevin Riley has championed the Indoor Hoops Act, which seeks to increase the availability of indoor basketball courts across NYC year-round. At a gathering with supporters, he emphasized the bill's importance for youth who often lack safe spaces when outdoor courts are unavailable due to weather. The Act proposes collaboration between the NYC Parks & Recreation Department and the Department of Education to keep school courts open after hours and weekends. However, it faces resistance from Parks Department representatives citing jurisdictional conflicts, despite having significant backing.
Riley stated, 'We cannot allow our youth to be left without safe places to grow, play, and thrive especially during inclement weather or after school hours.'
Basketball and youth sports, according to Riley, are more than games: 'They're avenues for mentorship, discipline, academic support, and emotional wellness.'
The Indoor Hoops Act aims to partner the NYC Parks & Recreation Department with the DOE to open unused school basketball courts for public use.
Despite having 28 co-sponsors, Parks Department officials deemed the Indoor Hoops Act 'inappropriate and infeasible' due to jurisdiction issues.
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