The One Roof Foundation last weekend officially launched the Verlo Sport Court in Tacoma, a refurbished 5,000-square-foot, fenced-in concrete playing surface for street hockey, basketball and other activities.
ByGeoff Baker / @geoffbakernhl / nhl.com/kraken
11:20 AM
Pete Reyes smiled while glancing at dozens of local youths playing ball hockey on a freshly laid and painted concrete court alongside Kraken mascot Buoy and television broadcaster JT Brown.
Parks Tacoma commissioner Reyes had attended Saturday’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of Verlo Sport Court, a $225,000 project spearheaded by the One Roof Foundation (ORF), the NHL and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to transform an existing basketball court into a 5,000-square-foot multi-sport playing facility. The Verlo Playfield location, decorated with artwork from local youth, has fenced-in features for ball hockey, basketball and modified soccer futsal with permanent sports equipment to encourage play.
“I mean, we’re in the east side of Tacoma right now and this has been a historically underserved community,” Reyes said. “So, having this here is such a treasure because this (hockey setup) wasn’t an accessible thing for them. So, I’m really glad it’s here.”