Students at Voyages Preparatory High School in Jackson Heights took on an ambitious project to revitalize Playground 90’s basketball court, turning a classroom assignment into a neighborhood landmark.
Through a series of bake sales, a community carnival, a basketball tournament and a global competition win, the seniors amassed more than $50,000 to fund the court’s overhaul.
Partnership Brings Professional Renovation
Non‑profit organization Project Backboard joined forces with NYC Parks to resurface the court and install a large‑scale mural that reflects the area’s cultural diversity. The collaboration marked the first student‑led project to capture the $50,000 Every Court Has a Story grant.
Voyages Prep, a public transfer school that serves students who have fallen behind or need an alternative pathway to graduation, embedded the work into its Hire Cause elective, linking classroom learning with tangible community needs.
Recognition and Ripple Effects
Council Member Shekar Krishnan praised the effort, highlighting the scarcity of green space in the district, while Assembly Member Jessica González‑Rojas called the renovation a powerful example of youth leadership. Seniors William Nevels and Kamrin Jones emphasized how the project unites residents and challenges stereotypes about transfer schools.
Teacher Yael Glick described the experience as transporting student ideas from the classroom to the real world, underscoring the project’s role in empowering young people to address real‑life challenges.