Oak Park Police to Host Free Youth Basketball Camp

By Cate Flahardy

Oak Park police officers may do a great job protecting and serving the residents of Oak Park, but some are taking that responsibility even a step further. Every year, a team of officers from the department’s community policing division hosts a youth basketball camp—and it’s free to any Oak Park child between the ages of eight and 14. This year marks the camp’s 20th event.

“We started it as an initiative to connect with youth in Oak Park, and over the years it has really grown in popularity,” says Commander Ladon Reynolds of the department’s community policing division. “Since we first launched the camp, it has more than doubled in size.”

The division created the camp as a way to connect to youth in Oak Park.

“Any opportunity to engage youth is an opportunity that should be taken,” Commander Reynolds says. “The camp gives the young people the opportunity to see officers outside the preconceived role that they play. The officers engage the kids as mentors and develop relationships. And it’s reciprocal. It’s positive for the kids, the officers and for the community as a whole.”

The camp, which is held at the West Cook YMCA (255 S. Marion St., Oak Park) from Aug. 12 to Aug. 16, includes one-on-one and group instruction, team play, full court games, contests and awards. The camp’s morning session, which runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., coaches Oak Park kids between the ages of eight and 11. An afternoon session, which runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., coaches kids between the ages of 12 and 14. Registration is required. For more information, call 708.358.5519 or email police@oak-park.us.