Source: News 5 Cleveland ABC
North Coast Yard, located just behind Huntington Bank Field, the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, used to be just a parking lot facing the shores of Lake Erie.
The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation took in public feedback over a three-year span and, about a year ago, began the plans for North Coast Yard.
After paving the gravel parking lot, the group installed classic shipping containers around the outdoor space. One of the shipping containers converts into a full bar with a rotation of local breweries serving up beverages throughout the summer. There’s a stage for live music and DJs to perform. Along the water sit picnic tables and spaces to relax, perhaps even grab a bite to eat from one of the circulating food trucks that are scheduled throughout the summer.
But the most prominent fixture of the space is the basketball courts at the heart of North Coast Yard. The asphalt courts with movable hoops might seem simple, but it’s the views that make it a surprisingly unique location to get some shots up.
The view from one direction, Lake Erie and the boats passing by. Late enough, the sunset throws warm colors across the water. The other view, the Downtown Cleveland Skyline. The setup is reminiscent of the outdoor courts in bigger cities.
“Everybody watches the street ball like Rucker Park and Dyckman and we finally have something like this that we could potentially use just like that,” said Nik Postoloski, the owner of the P League.
The P League is a local group offering basketball leagues for men and women. Postoloski found out about North Coast Yard and saw a chance to give his league a fresh and exceptional place to play, with the added hope of drawing people out to watch basketball in a way they do in cities like New York or Los Angeles.