Bethany Children’s Home celebrated the completion of a newly restored basketball court Wednesday, marking the culmination of a community-supported project designed to provide youth with a safe space for recreation, personal growth and healing.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on the Bethany campus near Womelsdorf, brought together staff, donors, community leaders and supporters to recognize the new court, which replaces a facility originally constructed in 1941.
According to Bethany, the project reflects the organization’s commitment to providing enriching recreational opportunities for youth in its residential care programs. The court is intended to promote physical wellness, teamwork, resilience and positive social interaction while serving as a gathering place where young people can build confidence and healthy habits.
The project was made possible through more than $121,000 in community donations raised over the past several years.
Bethany CEO Nick Hill thanked donors for investing in more than just a new recreational facility.
“Your generosity is about so much more than restoring a basketball court,” Hill said. “You’ve invested in a place where young people will build confidence, develop healthy habits, strengthen friendships, and learn lessons that extend far beyond the lines of the court.”
Hill also recognized Lancaster Asphalt Systems and its owners, Bonnie and Wes Powers, for completing the project.
“You didn’t simply restore a court; you created a beautiful, safe, and welcoming space that will impact countless lives for years to come,” he said.
Hill said the court will become a place where youth learn perseverance, discipline, accountability, respect and leadership while also creating lasting memories.
“Some of those best memories aren’t made during championships; they’re made during everyday moments: shooting baskets after dinner, cheering on a friend, or just hanging out at the courts,” Hill said.
Bethany Board President Dr. Betsy Adams reflected on the campus’s history, noting that she grew up on the property while her father served as superintendent for more than 30 years.
Adams explained that although basketball is now one of the most popular outdoor sports, the campus did not originally have a dedicated basketball court. The area first opened as two tennis courts in 1941 before basketball hoops were later added. A renovation in 1977 also retained the tennis court layout.
“So today, basketball is very popular as an outdoor sport,” Adams said. “It’s about time that we really had a dedicated, beautiful basketball court here for the kids to use and to feel like they have a great place that they should be able to play.”
Adams also credited Hill for leading the project from its early planning stages through fundraising and completion.
Founded in 1863, Bethany Children’s Home provides residential care, education and supportive services for youth in need of a safe and nurturing environment. Organization leaders said the new court is part of a broader effort to expand recreational opportunities across campus and create spaces that foster healing, growth and connection for the young people in its care.
