'Night Flight' Fridays: A Chestnut Street Park Preview
Apr. 29—HENDERSON — In anticipation of the beautification of Chestnut St. Park, "Night Flight" Fridays are being held every second and fourth Friday of the month to raise money for the renovation of the old basketball court across from Davis Chapel Baptist Church.
Community-wide Advisory Committee chairman Charles Turrentine Jr. is running the event in collaboration with Kendrick Vann and the Parks and Rec Department.
The idea is to preview what Friday nights would be like after Chestnut St. Park receives its much-needed renovations.
"We try to kill two birds with one stone," said Henderson-Vance Parks & Rec Director Kendrick Vann. "During high-crime times we can offer entertainment in a safe environment."
From DJ Akeem Lewis donating his time to provide Friday night vibes, to the work done by Turrentine and Vann, the "Night Flight" Fridays are truly a selfless act of community service and engagement.
The Community-wide Advisory Committee also ruled that the money generated from the Friday night pickup games would be used to fund the beautification project.
"This is what these boards are built for," said Vann. "To come up with ideas to better the city and the county — this is a great opportunity."
While starting as a youth program on Friday nights to deter crime, the fun but competitive nature of the pickup games has attracted legitimate hoopers from the tri-county areas.
From toddlers, all the way up to men in their forties, the program hosts a diverse age group and a plethora of talent, with local high school and junior college basketball players trying their luck against the "old heads."
"We're trying to build strong male influences on our community through a common love of sports," said Turrentine."
The intergenerational program also includes members of the fire department and the sheriff's office, further fostering the program's mission of community policing and intersectionality.
"We're doing all of this through an appointed city board," said Vann.
Turrentine hopes to get the YMCA involved with their mission and bring further publicity to their goal of renovating the old, forgotten park.
"You have a park that has been in the same condition since the 1980s, but still draws in 60 people to play ball," said Turrentine. "Imagine if it was in good condition."
As a storied, staple landmark within the confines of the city, Turrentine believes the park could become a Mecca of basketball within Vance County.
"Chestnut Street Park has never been exposed or gotten any type of publicity," said Turrentine. "This is only the beginning."
