Supporters push for upgrade to Esko basketball courts

Dreams of new outdoor basketball courts in Esko could soon become a reality.

According to Matt Berger, a former basketball coach, player and trainer, the outdoor courts in Esko have been well-loved by the community over the years. But now, summer basketball players find themselves wrapping a lot of skinned knees due to the uneven and cracked nature of the old courts. Berger told the Thomson Township board of supervisors at its meeting Thursday, June 16, about the crooked posts and worn-out hoops there.

During the summer of 2021, Berger and some other community members, with the help of Esko Community Education staff, started exploring the possibility of building new courts. Due to Covid-19, the project has been slow to develop, but the group is finally ready to start sharing its plans with the community.

According to Berger, the project will consist of two full-length basketball courts, a four-square court, and two pickleball courts. The new courts would be open to everyone in the community, “from preschool to high school and beyond.”

The cost of the project, a lofty $90,000, would include the new courts, the basketball hoops, pickleball nets, and installation. The courts would be in the same place as the existing courts, reusing the current area.

“The kids in Esko, they really don’t have a good place to play, besides indoors. So this would give everyone a good option,” Berger said.

The board agreed with Berger, with chairperson Ruth Janke saying she knows there is a need for something like this in the community.

Supervisor Tony Compo mentioned to the board that they have a slight excess of funds in the recreational funds portion of their budget due to groups not needing funding during the pandemic, since they were not operating.

Other supervisors agreed with allocating monies from that portion of the budget to the project. The board donated $10,000 to the project, adding to a $10,000 donation from Esko Community Ed and a $5,000 donation from the Hoops Club. Berger told the board that they are going to continue to ask other community organizations for financial support before asking the Esko school board and eventually seeking private funding. Berger hopes to one day replace the fencing around the courts as well as install lighting so that they can be used from sunup to sundown.

In other business:

-Thomson Township road and utility supervisor Logan Saline resigned from his position after five years. The board accepted his resignation and will potentially be looking for multiple applicants to help fill the position.

-Township engineer Joe Jurewicz answered questions from community members about the sewer rate increase that was presented at the board’s May 19 meeting. Jurewicz assured the public that a lot of work has gone into the calculations for the increases slated to take place over the next few years. Jurewicz also apologized for stating that the rates have not gone up since the year 2000, as they did increase in the mid-2000s. The public is encouraged to attend the public meeting on the sewer rate increase on Aug. 4 and ask any questions.

The Thomson Township board of supervisors meets on the first and third Thursday of each month.