MANSFIELD — Kye Bowman wants to bring a sense of community pride back to Johns Park.
“This area it definitely has its reputation, but this is part of my home,” said Bowman, a podcaster and Mansfield native.
“I love coming up here and I feel like it’s definitely underestimated. I definitely feel like it’s misunderstood.”
Bowman is part of the group of area residents behind Mansfield Urban Summer Jam, a free event taking place Saturday in the park.
Bowman said he hopes the event can fill the void left behind after the Brooks and Holmes Basketball Tournament ended its 30-year run.
The tournament was a staple event in Mansfield’s North End for nearly 30 years. Every Labor Day weekend, the community gathered at Johns Park to play ball and honor the memory of local basketball legends Darrin Brooks and Ronnie Holmes, who died in a car accident in 1991.
The last Brooks and Holmes Tournament took place in 2019. The tournament ended due to a variety of factors, including youth violence and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an article from the North End Community Improvement Collaborative’s newsletter.
“We’re looking to change the negative connotation that the North End, especially John’s Park, has in Mansfield,” said Shannica Black, another one of the organizers.
“Brooks and Holmes brought the community together, it was something positive to look forward to. We’re trying to bring that vibe back.”
Saturday’s event will feature basketball tournaments for men, women and teens, plus bouncy houses and flag football for the youth. Food trucks and community vendors will be on site, as well as live entertainment.
Registration for the tournament will begin at 8 a.m. and close at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday. Games start at 10 a.m.
Adult teams will be 3-on-3; youth teams will be 5-on-5. Registration is $300 for men and boys teams and $100 for women’s teams.
The winner of the men’s tournament will receive a $1500 cash prize sponsored by Bar Pregame. The winner of the women’s tournament will receive half the pot from the entry fees.
Both Bowman and Black said the event will include private security and that safety is a priority for the organizers.
“I want people to expect a good time, great vibes. I want people to expect a family welcome,” Bowman said.
“If you miss out on this good event, you gotta wait a whole other year for it to come back around.”
