Basketball Courts Ordered Closed At Madison Park

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood officials have closed the basketball courts at Madison Park.

“While we understand the importance to the community that our basketball courts serve as wonderful recreational outlets, my obligation as safety director is to ensure a safe environment for all patrons of the park. We look forward to reopening the court as soon as possible," Mayor Meghan George said.

George's decision to close the courts comes despite some community resistance, including a strong statement from Lakewood City Council President Dan O'Malley.

"I also want to state my unequivocal position that I oppose removing the basketball court at Madison Park and also oppose reducing it to half-courts. This court is an amenity enjoyed safely and responsibly by thousands of kids and adults and we will not surrender it to anyone," O'Malley said in a post on social media.

Some members of the Lakewood community, like Randy Brown, have called for the city to implement a community volunteer program at Madison Park to monitor the basketball courts. He suggested monitors could step in and settle disputes at the courts before anything escalated.

There have been two shootings at Madison Park in two months.

Read more about the shootings and fallout:

• Madison Park Shooting: 2nd Person In Custody
• Madison Park Shooting: Lakewood City Council Proposes Changes
• How Lakewood Groups Are Responding To Madison Park Shootings