Local Leaders Breaks Ground on West Tuscaloosa Basketball Court & Pavilion

A large group of young local leaders gathered in west Tuscaloosa Tuesday morning to break ground on a new community basketball court they are funding and building there.

The packed-out groundbreaking featured all the members of this year's class of Leadership Tuscaloosa, an intensive nine-month program organized by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama to boost each class's local knowledge and networks.

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The program is in its 41st year, and somewhere in that period, each Class of Leadership Tuscaloosa began organizing and executing a service project for the community.

The 2025 Class partnered on New Hoops 4 New Heights - an ambitious plan to build a new $83,000 community basketball court and pavilion at the New Heights Community Resource Center in west Tuscaloosa meant for local youth and families to enjoy.

"This year, our class is made up of some incredible leaders and they've got big hearts," said  Karen Burklew, a Community Relations Manager for Alabama Power and a member of this year's class. "They also have a passion for making a meaningful and impactful contribution to our community. So this idea of a building a basketball court and pavilion, that's how it was born."

On Tuesday, the entire LT Class was joined by dignitaries including Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, STARS Academy Principal Donmonique Morgan, Chamber President and CEO Kyle South and many others to break ground on the courts.

"When I helped co-found New Heights Community Resource Center four years ago, I knew that one day we would be here," Dr. Morgan said. "Today marks a significant milestone in our school's journey towards providing our students with the best facilities to support their growth, both academically and athletically."

This class of Leadership Tuscaloosa has already secured more than $50,000 of the over $80,000 they need for this project through generous donations, but said they continue to see financial contributions and in-kind donations to help make the vision a reality.

Those needs include concrete, excavating services, metal roofing and two outdoor garbage cans. Learn more and commit to giving here. 

For more coverage of news that matters in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.