A beloved White Plains basketball league is heading back to the courts one year after a shooting forced the city to shut it down, according to a report by News 12. The return marks the revival of a summer tradition that had been sidelined since last August.
For more than four decades, the Ferris World Ball League called the courts at Gardella Park its home. The league had long been a fixture in White Plains, drawing players and fans to the park over the years.
That all changed last August, when former White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach and the Parks Department discontinued the league after a shooting following a game. The decision brought an abrupt end to the league's long run at the park.
Former White Plains Public Safety Commissioner David Chong said the shooting appeared to be a dispute between two groups of people after the game. The violence prompted city officials to halt the tournament.
The shooting was not the only factor driving the change. Neighbors also raised concerns, saying the league had outgrown the park and created litter, adding to the pressure that led to its shutdown.
City officials said they have been working day in and day out to figure out the right way to alleviate the concerns of the community, while making sure the parts of the community that love the tournament could see it continue in a way that works for everyone.
Under the new arrangement, the adult league begins next Wednesday and runs through September 3rd, with games held at SUNY Purchase and the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh. The city says both venues will allow more fans to attend, with additional infrastructure and parking.
Marquis Patillo, who commentates for the league, said the men's teams are already back and ready to go, and that he is glad the mayor, the city and the parks were able to come together to continue the legacy. At this time, there are no plans to move the high school basketball league from Gardella Park.