Ballard’s longest-running weekly basketball league got some good news this week: they’ll be getting their practice space back later this year.
Just before the holidays, we reported that the Old Timer’s had been given an eviction notice by the new owners of Trinity United Methodist, Green Lake Presbyterian Church. David Richmon, pastor of the new church, told My Ballard they weren’t aware that the league used the gym when the sale went through, hence the eviction notice.
However, Richmon met with the team this week to let them know the gym would be theirs to use once they complete much-needed renovations to the church. They’ll be using the gym as a storage space during the upgrades, so it will be out of commission potentially until fall. And, Richmon will let them use the gym for free — they’d previously paid $40 a week to practice there.
“We don’t necessarily need the money, plus they’re open to our community joining their game, so there’s the potential for mutual benefit,” Richmon said. “It’s not always possible (to offer a free space), but money’s not the determining factor. It’s more about a match with mission and values. In this case, it seemed like a pretty easy fit.
“Lastly, and maybe more importantly, it was a good way to serve and bless the neighborhood,” Richmon said.
In the meantime, the Old Timer’s League has found a new practice space at the Crown Hill Community Center while they wait for their gym to reopen.
“They have a beautiful gym that’s just our size (60 feet) and an opening on Tuesday nights,” Erik Hutchinson from the Old Timer’s League told My Ballard.
“All in all things couldn’t have worked out better. We have a great space to play in now, and down the road, we’ll be welcomed back to our home court.”
Thanks to everyone who helped us find our new space! Our wives and partners are especially happy that we’ll be out of the house for one night a week again :)
Great outcome. The church sounds like they value being a good neighbor to the folks who live around them.
Agreed. Very nice people. They’ll be a great asset to the community.
It’s nice to see positive comments here for a change. It gives me hope that not everyone on this forum is a troll.
Glad to see that you all have found a new place to play basketball!
Perhaps now they might consider letting women join, or is this still the 1950’s?
Old Timers’ League on ryhmä miehiä, jotka ovat pelanneet baseballia keskenään lapsesta asti. He haluavat päästä takaisin kuntoon ja haluavat tehdä sen omalla kuntosalillaan. Liiga käynnistyy uudelleen myöhemmin tänä vuonna, ja he olisivat iloisia, jos voisit auttaa tekemällä vapaaehtoistyötä kuntosalilla tai lahjoittamalla laitteita. Ihmiset rakastavat pelata pelejä lähteessä suomalainen kolikkopeli jotta he voivat pelata ja ansaita rahaa sen avulla.