Pop Up Basketball
By Darrin Eakins and Darrell Eakins Jr.
Placemaking is all about creating and activating key locations in the urban core for people to participate and engage in. An artistic-style basketball court in Downtown Jacksonville was this team’s approach to connect people of all ages to the energy that is vibrating throughout the downtown area.
The team partnered with the Nassau Pride ABA Basketball Team aka “Pride” to transform and activate the court in Brooklyn Park. The team was able to bring local athletes downtown to play. Upon completion of the court, the team along with Councilman Peluso, the duPont Foundation, and city leadership helped a grand unveiling event for the basketball court to re-open to the public as an asset and not an eyesore. The event was open to the community; and filled with family fun entertainment.
The project was such a success that it catalyzed the official creation and launch of the DuBlase Foundation which is an active board of engineers working together to support minority students in the pursuit of STEM-related careers.
