Cambridge Recreation Rescues Local Hoops

Pick-up basketball. It’s one of the few situations where you can go out, meet with random strangers and have a blast for a few hours. Seeing a group of guys outside shooting hoops at the park is a sign of the season and its elements being generous enough to allow everyone to fully enjoy the outdoors.

Therein lies the problem. In many cities, you can count on one hand how many months in which the weather is even good enough to go out and play ball at the park. The same can be said for Boston’s neighboring town, Cambridge.

The Cambridge YMCA used to provide refuge for young hoopers during the harsh winter months through their youth basketball leagues during the winter. After the 2016 season, they completely canceled those leagues, leaving Cambridge kids without a centralized place to play organized indoor ball.

Fortunately, for citizens of Cambridge, the Recreation department has made a priority to renovate nearly all the public parks (large and small) over the last few years. They understand the value of those warm months and have fitted many of the basketball courts with clean glass backboards, repainted concrete, and new fences. Considering YMCA’s retraction, Cambridge Recreation’s summer basketball leagues have become more important than ever.

The leagues operate out of 3 parks and accommodate boys and girls from ages 8 to 19. With a registration fee of $10 per player, it’s also a cheap way for families to keep their kids active.

GUNNERPHI made it out to a game last month at Hoyt Field and the ambiance was astounding. Community members reunited in the summer heat to watch the young athletes. Families looked on, kids played hard, and if you scanned the crowd closely enough you could find former YMCA employees drawn to the competition. Click the slideshow to check out some of the action below: