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Flanigan Park basketball courts reopened

The sound of basketballs bouncing and boys and girls playing the sport will be heard at Roy A. Flanigan Park again.

The courts, built in 2017 through generosity of Alize Johnson, a National Basketball Association player from Williamsport, were opened back up Monday morning.

The gates will be open 8 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m. daily, until about Nov. 8, when they close for winter, according to officials at Firetree Place, the youth center at 600 Campbell St., which operates the facility.

The courts were closed following harassment and assault against caretaker Richard Parker, 76, by teenagers about 8:10 p.m. Aug. 25. Video emerged on social media of the group taunting Parker. Heard in the video is a voice that says “take him down” and someone threw a basketball at Parker’s head. The ball struck Parker in the temple, and he dropped to the ground. The juveniles were charged, police said.

Firetree Place is a non-profit licensed child-care community center focused towards youth. It is not a city recreation department operation.

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