Pacers Foundation launches major initiative to renovate basketball courts across the state
After success improving basketball courts at Indy parks in recent years, the Pacers Foundation plans to grow the initiative statewide over the next decade. The whole team attended the ribbon-cutting.

The entire Indiana Pacers roster attended an event Wednesday afternoon that will enhance basketball courts across the state and help grow the game.
After practice, the players arrived at Frederick Douglass Park, less than four miles north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, via sprinter vans for a major announcement from the Pacers Foundation. They interacted with hundreds of Pacers fans, both young and old, took photos, shot baskets and watched kids play knockout.
But first, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 3:15 p.m. ET. Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and more had extra large scissors to participate as Pacers mascot, Boomer, led the crowd in a countdown from five (with visuals, of course).
Then remarks were made by several city leaders followed, along with comments from Rachel Simon, chair of the Pacers Foundation.
“We're going to be revitalizing 20 courts over the next 10 years, really prioritizing physical and mental health which is incredibly important to us,” she said. “We want to change how kids play, the way they play, and where they play.”
Simon also emphasized how they want to make sure kids and families have safe, accessible places to play and socialize.
The Pacers Foundation has invested more than $9 million over the last three decades on uplifting area kids and communities.
“At its core, we're a basketball company. And so to be able to invest in this way in our community is going to be really phenomenal and this is just the tip-off of that,” Corey Wilson, the executive director of the Pacers Foundation told Fieldhouse Files after the announcement.
“We're going partner with different organizations to rehab courts, indoors, outdoors, basketball courts, the scoreboards — all the things surrounding that make basketball the game that we all love.”
The Pacers, in partnership with other companies such as AES Indiana, have restored a number of courts in the area. From Brookside Community Center to the court nearby at 30th and Fall Creek. It’s not new; but now they’re going into overdrive.
“We said, hey, this is really something that we should do more,” Wilson added. “So we have a great design team that's working hard on different designs and we're looking forward to partnering with the community to develop future courts.
This basketball court rehab program is one of two signature projects that the Pacers Foundation is focused on. The other is Drive and Dish, a food insecurity program that head coach Rick Carlisle spearheaded and launched earlier this year.
“We love basketball here, as a community in general,” said Wilson. “And so to see kids just be so excited about having a new and improved court, this is going to speak volumes for generations to be able to have pride in the court that they have as close to their home is gonna be phenomenal.”
During this three-hour event near the downtown, there was a DJ — along with several blow-up games, a coloring station, and more. Best of all, an opportunity to interact with members of the team while enjoying the courts, both inside and outside.
“I have an overwhelming sense of community today,” added councilor Crista Carlino, the chairwoman for the Indy Parks and Recreation committee. “Some of us played our first 3-on-3 at a city park court and the revitalization of these courts and this critical investment over the next 10 years is absolutely critical.”
They will be upgrading indoor and outdoor courts at public parks so they’re welcoming to the community and encouraging activity, games and socializing.
The next grand opening will be at the Wes Montgomery Park Basketball Pavilion.
“This is a court thanks in large part to the Pacers Foundation, to the Simon family that says to our community you can have a court that's good enough or you can have a court that's worthy of our people,” said Blake Johnson, interim CEO of the Parks Alliance. “Worthy of the community that surrounds this place. Worthy of this city. That's what you have with this court.
“The last thing I'll say in closing is a lot of communities around this country would love to have a Pacers Foundation and a Simon family. Because they don't just make investments, they catalyze what's possible.”
Meanwhile, opening night for the Pacers is in one week: on the road in Detroit.

⭐️ The Golden Gala
This weekend, the foundation will host another new event: The Golden Gala.
On Saturday, Oct. 19 at Commission Row, they are hosting an evening with the team. It’s a private event with a casino theme, and you can attend for $1,000/ticket to proceeds benefiting the Pacers Foundation.
It will feature the chance to spend time with Pacers and Fever stars*, casino table games and top-notch music and entertainment, world-class food, and lots and lots of gold! There will also be an exclusive VIP experience at Mel’s speakeasy on Commission Row’s lower level.
This appears to replace their annual Masquerade event that used to be held each preseason and honored someone special in the community.