NBA to partner with Something in the Water to rehab Virginia Beach basketball courts

VIRGINIA BEACH — It’s hard keeping a secret.

Just ask Amelia Ross-Hammond and the rest of the Virginia African American Cultural Center board of directors. They’ve been keeping one this week — and are happy to finally share it.

A sports powerhouse is stepping up to give some love to a community park adjacent to the center’s future location in Virginia Beach.

The NBA, one of the partners of the Something in the Water festival, will rehabilitate three basketball courts in Lake Edward, near the corner of Newtown and Diamond Springs roads. The project will begin soon and could be completed in a few months, said Annie Horn, NBA’s director of social responsibility, in a phone interview Thursday.

“These efforts are part of our mission to inspire and connect people through the power of basketball,” she said. “We’re excited for this project to get underway.”

[ Guide for Something in the Water: What you need to know ]

Something in the Water organizers reached out to community groups earlier this year looking for project opportunities. Ross-Hammond, chair of the center’s board and a Virginia Beach City Council member, submitted a few ideas.

One was to refresh the rusty backboards in Lake Edward Park. The courts will remain in place after the cultural center, in the fundraising stage, is built, Ross-Hammond said.

Members of the VAACC board, including Amelia Ross-Hammond, talk about the improvements Something in the Water in partnership with the NBA will make, including to the basketball courts at the African American Cultural Center site in Virginia Beach. As seen Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

The cultural center will celebrate Virginia’s African American history, culture and community. It will feature meeting rooms, exhibit space, a theater and outdoor activity areas.

She hoped the festival would send a local artist to paint the backboards to surprise the neighborhood. On Monday, she was shocked to hear from the organizers that her wish will be more than granted.

“I had no idea it would be the NBA,” she said. “That’s huge.”

A rendering of the Virginia African American Cultural Center shows the basketball courts adjacent to the building. (Courtesy of Virginia African American Cultural Center)

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Pharrell Williams, the festival’s creator, has partnered with the NBA in the past, serving as a judge for contests and as a half-time performer at the All-Star games. When asked by Williams to participate in one of the festival’s community projects, the NBA didn’t hesitate.

“We jumped at the opportunity to support something that is near and dear to him,” Horn said. “This came up to us as a good point of synergy.”

The NBA will partner with a yet-to-be-announced local artist on a design. The artist will paint the courts’ surfaces and the backboards. Other upgrades also may be made.

Members of the VAACC board, from left, Harshad Barot, Cheryl Davidson, Amelia Ross-Hammond, Tom Lee and James Bonds, are excited about the improvements Something in the Water, in partnership with the NBA, will make to the basketball courts at the African American Cultural Center site in Virginia Beach. As seen Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

“We want to make sure they have the best-in-class basketball court for this community,” Horn said.

Now that the secret’s out, Ross-Hammond can finally share her excitement.

“It brings pride to the Virginia African American Cultural Center property and to Lake Edward Park,” she said. “I’m very grateful.”

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com