OKC Thunder's Big Donation Helps Renovate Tulsa Park

Two new basketball courts at Tulsa's B.C. Franklin Park are now open for business.

This is the Oklahoma City Thunder's 12th court project and the first in Tulsa.

“It means a lot,” said local resident Larry Barnett. “This community needs something to bring us back together. A lot of people used to come down here and play basketball all the time. I'm glad the OKC Thunder did something for this community. It's nice.”

Related Story: Tulsa Park 'Thunders Up!' Thanks To Donation

There used to be a rec center in the area where a handful of future NBA players worked on their games. 

The city tore it down two years ago, but now kids in this neighborhood are back in the game.

“We make a point to do these court refurbishments and court builds in the middle of a community where kids are going to come from their houses; they're going to come out and play after school,” Thunder Community Relations Vice President Christine Berney explained. “We want them to be open. We want people to be able to come at any time."

Community Advocate Vanessa Hall-Harper stated, "They donated a second court because we wanted two; we just didn't have it in the budget. And then when they said they would brand it Thunder, that was everything we could ask for and more. We are so appreciative of what they were able to do in partnering with the city and the community. This is awesome. I don't think it could get any better."

Thunder fans might say the only thing that could make it better is a certain player deciding to stay in Oklahoma.