Berlin Summer Basketball League Approved

BERLIN – Town officials have approved plans for a summer basketball league set for Henry Park.

The mayor and town council expressed support last Monday for a Flower Street basketball league proposed by Berlin resident William Johnson.

“It’s very important kids have something to do,” Councilmember Lisa Hall said.

She and the rest of the council approved Johnson’s plan to host a basketball league for middle and high school students during June and July. Johnson hopes to attract 216 players to form 18 teams to play in the evenings. He said he wanted to keep the games between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. so they wouldn’t require lighting.

The games will all be held in Henry Park, which now features bleachers and will soon have new benches in place.

Johnson said Worcester Youth and Family Counseling (WYFCS) had agreed to help him handle administration of the summer league. Berlin Mayor Gee Williams praised the partnership.

“It gives you all credibility,” he said, “and the town then is sure the facilities are being used for their intended purpose.”

He added that coordination with a local non-profit group like WYFCS would also make getting sponsors easier.

Johnson said he was still in the process of getting sponsors to help handle the costs that will be associated with the league — primarily the expense of hiring referees. He admitted that he was getting short on time to get things in order, as he wanted to start the league in mid-June, but said he would do his best to make it happen this year.

Williams suggested he provide the community with a sample of the program even if he wasn’t able to get all the players he needed or all of the money required to finance the enterprise.

“Give people a taste and you’ll be in the opposite situation next year,” he said.

Hall agreed.

“Even if you can’t get a full-blown league at least get something going so they have something to look forward to next year,” she said.

B.J. Johnson, varsity basketball coach at Stephen Decatur High School, was with William Johnson as he presented his request to the town council. The coach said he would be thrilled to have a program like the one proposed as it would give his players valuable experience

“The structure part of this is important,” he said. “Kids grow up and they don’t know how to play. They come to high school and we have to reprogram them. Something like this would be awesome to get them started.”