The sounds of children laughing, music playing and kids shooting hoops marked a day of celebration and remembrance as the Greenport community came out in force Saturday to dedicate the newly refurbished Third Street basketball court to four young men who died in tragic accidents.
A heartfelt ceremony was held at the park, led by former Greenport Village Trustee Val Shelby.
The court was repaved and painted this season; Trustee David Murray spearheaded the effort and thanked Village Administrator Paul Pallas and his staff for their hard work.
Honored Saturday were Corey Freeman, Kyle Rose, Michael Brown, and Jefferson Naquawn Treadwell, all of whom have lost their lives far too soon.
Pam Swan, Brown’s grandmother, reflected on a young man who touched scores of lives. “He was a very special child,” she said. Suffering from cerebral palsy she said her grandson had been through so much, but faced his challenges with optimism. Only 21, was heading to Suffolk County Community College when he was killed in a car crash.
“We’re still trying to put the pieces together,” she said. But the basketball park is something she said Brown would have loved, even though he had never been able to play the game. “His greatest desire was to play basketball,” she said.
His sister, Karre Brown, added, “He had the best spirit in the world and inspired people. He was a fighter. He was my best friend.”
The service began with a prayer by Reverend Nathanial Hayward, Sr. of the Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church in Greenport.
Next, Greenport Mayor David Nyce addressed the crowd. “This is a special moment, one we should take time to cherish,” he said. “This park is a big part of the community.”
The park, the mayor added, is now renamed and dedicated to four young men who left far too young and should be a place to remember their youth and childhood, and also, serve as a quiet space to reflect, not only with sadness, but also, as a place to “celebrate their lives” and the laughter of other young children who will come to enjoy the space.
Murray, who was instrumental in organizing the facelift for the park, unveiled the new “Third Street Memorial Park” sign and urged kids to keep the facility safe and clean.
Also present were Greenport Deputy Mayor George Hubbard, Trustee Mary Bess Phillips, Trustee Julia Robins, Village Clerk Sylvia Lazzari Pirillo, Greenport Board of Education member Heather Wolf and other school staffers.
Brown then sang a song, “Beautiful”, in memory of the four young men, whose time it was to go, she said.
The crowd was visibly moved at Shelby passed out white balloons. “Lift up your sorrows,” she said. “These balloons carry messages of hope and love.”
As the balloons were let go and gently floated upward, all present looked to the sky.
Former longtime Greenport teacher Ron McEvoy said the four young men that died had a “tremendous influence” on his life. “They loved music, sports, girls. More than anything, they had a dignity” despite challenges they faced. “I’ll never forget their smiles” after accomplishments achieved, he said. Their loss, he said, changed his life irrevocably. “Life is too precious to waste,” he said, adding that he no longer gets upset by the little things. Students later in his career benefitted from this mood shift, he said, laughing. “No more Mac attacks.” Turning somber, he said, “This is a fitting tribute.” He added that the park should be used in a “great way” with kids “sweating, laughing” and filling it with sounds of joy.
Greenport/Southold School Superintendent David Gamberg pointed out children sitting on a bench and said the park would be a legacy of love. He added that he was touched by the emotional ceremony and was proud to be in the park Saturday.
Shelby led children in a pledge to keep the park clean and safe; she led the adults in a similar pledge, to protect the children and keep the facility safe.
Other highlights of the event included a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Dominique Aviles and a rap song, “When I think about old Greenport,” sung by Shelby’s nephew Taj Mckenzie.
Shelby concluded the presentation by telling the kids on the court, “Let’s play ball.”
Denise Wilson, remembering her son, Brown, said he’d have loved the day’s events. “He spent a lot of time in this park. And he’s never been forgotten.”
Beatrice Freeman, whose son Corey, 23, died in a car crash in 2010, said he would have been the first playing basketball on the new court. “He was comical; he’d keep everyone laughing.” Glancing around at the crowd enjoying hot dogs and burgers prepared by Nyce and the village board, she smiled. “He was very well known in the community. They remember him.”
