The NBA, the San Antonio Spurs and Emirates hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday and officially unveiled refurbished spaces at the Denver Heights Community Center.
As a part of its NBA Cares Finals Legacy Project presented by Emirates, the community center’s revamped gym, multipurpose room and “upgraded gaming equipment for youth and families” will be on display for use for the first time.
Additionally, the NBA Foundation and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation are contributing a $50,000 grant to the San Antonio Parks Foundation to support future efforts at the community center.
During his speech, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took time out to speak directly to the youth in the Denver Heights neighborhood in attendance.
“The (NBA) Finals come through this community. There’s all this excitement, but invariably, we leave. … But what remains is this community center,” Silver said. “And the purpose of us being here today is for all of you — not just to make this investment and improving this facility, the gym, the computer center, the library — but to encourage you to use it.”
“The (Spurs) players are here with me today. Every one of them grew up in a community center like this,” Silver continued. “Every one of them will tell you that, but for a community center with leaders like the people who are here, they would not be sitting on these stools today representing the NBA. So, that’s my message to all of you.”
“The Denver Heights Community Center is an opportunity for youth and families to really flourish,” Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO RC Buford said. “Our vision for the Spurs’ impact is we want to build leaders and legacies where we live, learn, work and play. And what better place can we do that than here at the Denver Heights Community Center?”
Other ceremony attendees were:
- NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum
- San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones
- Spurs players Harrison Barnes, Lindy Waters III, Mason Plumlee, Bismack Biyombo and David Jones Garcia
Youth participants later took part in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic, as well as interactive technology and gaming activities throughout the renovated spaces at the community center.
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