Drop In Crime Could Spell Return Of Full-Time Hoops At Oxford Park

Posted 2:12 p.m. Mar 20, 2006 — Updated 2:12 p.m. Mar 20, 2006

OXFORD, N.C. — For nearly a decade, basketball has been banned at night at the Granville Street Park in Oxford because of concerns over crime. There have been fewer reports of crime, and now, the city is considering whether the neighborhood is safe enough to bring back the basketball goals.

Opinions from residents have been mixed. Calvin Downey, who has lived for nearly four decades across the street from the park, said he has dodged his share of bullets.

"You know a bullet (doesn't) know anybody," he said. "If they bring those goals back, it will be the same thing that happened before -- fighting, drinking, shooting."

Resident Stephanie Hargrove believes return of the basketball goals will benefit children.

"If they don't have a basketball court, they are not going to do anything but get in trouble," Hargrove said.

Oxford police say it was a shooting that first led to removal of the basketball goals.

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