Retired NBA champion David Lee talks from the center of a circle of young basketball players and coaches from the City of St. Louis Recreation Division at the Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts in Forest Park.

The Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts in Forest Park have become a popular amenity, with over 8,000 visits in the first 3.5 months since their opening in July 2024.

While the courts have been used by players young and old and with a wide range of abilities, the most decorated player among those thousands of visitors thus far was likely David Lee, the retired NBA champion and All-Star who honed his skills as a youth in St. Louis.

Lee hosted a skills clinic at the courts on Thursday, Sept. 12, with over 40 families from City of St. Louis recreation centers. For many attendees, it was their first time experiencing the new courts.

The coaches from the City of St. Louis Recreation Division joined Lee and led youth in age-based stretches, drills and tactics on five of the six hoops at “The Nick.” Lee also shared inspiring words with the campers and recalled his own childhood days playing at Tandy Recreation Center at the corner of Kennerly and Annie Malone Drive.

"The kids loved meeting David, and the families said they had a great time," said Juakena Callion, Commissioner of Recreation in the City's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry. "Those who didn't know about the courts said they're glad their child got a chance to play on them and look forward to bringing their kids back.”

In addition to looking up to him for tips, children peppered Lee with questions on his toughest opponents in the NBA — then promised to Google his highlights when they returned home.

Programming to Draw Our Community to Forest Park

The clinic was the first organized, public programming event since the opening of the courts, but certainly not the last. In designing and planning the courts in partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, Forest Park Forever committed to create programming and events that serve as opportunities to bring more members of the St. Louis community to Forest Park.

While Forest Park receives 15.5 million visits each year, visitor studies show that programming like this clinic helps introduce more community members to the Park, helps increase diversity and encourages more people to consider returning to the Park for is many amenities and opportunities for culture, nature and recreation.

During the community engagement and research that helped inform the courts design, we heard from players and families who desired both half courts and full courts, and both open, informal play as well as more organized programming. On this night, with five of the hoops devoted to children enjoying the clinic plus a half court occupied by an adult three-on-three pickup game, The Nick offered both.

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