In Johnstown’s Old Conemaugh area, a basketball court renovation is giving local children something simple but valuable: a place to play close to home.

Brent and Derek Labarko, whose family has lived in the area for four generations, have helped turn a neglected court into a more inviting neighborhood gathering place.

Vegetation had crowded the playing surface, while rusty hoops made the court look as though better days were behind it.

A $10,000 grant from Johnstown’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund helped the family clear overgrowth, install new hoops and paint fresh court lines.

Those improvements may sound modest, but anyone who has watched a familiar play space deteriorate knows how much its condition can affect a neighborhood.

The Labarkos remember having places to spend time outdoors when they were young, and they want today’s children to have that same opportunity.

They have seen more young people using the court, a welcome change that makes the work feel worthwhile.

The project is not finished, however.

The family hopes to add a dedicated playground nearby, extending the space beyond basketball and making it useful to children of different ages.

That distinction matters: playground restoration remains a goal for the area, not a completed part of the project.

Across Cambria County, community recreation areas do more than fill an empty lot; they give neighbors a reason to meet and children room to grow.

In a place where families have deep roots, restoring a court can also signal that the next generation deserves attention and investment.

A cleaner, more welcoming space cannot solve every neighborhood challenge, but it can make a meaningful difference on an ordinary afternoon.

The Labarkos hope their effort encourages other communities to look again at overlooked spaces and imagine what a little work could change.

For now, the renewed court offers something residents can see and use, while the hoped-for playground gives the neighborhood another reason to keep moving forward.