BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Park lovers were recently treated to a grand reopening of the village’s Upper Park, renovated courtesy of basketball coaching legend Flip Saunders.
The park was formally rededicated Aug. 6 in a ceremony featuring the late NBA basketball coach’s son Ryan Saunders -- himself an NBA assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets -- along with the senior Saunders’ widow, Debbie Saunders, and longtime friend, Cleveland sports attorney and agent Mark Termini.
Flip Saunders was an all-state basketball player at Cuyahoga Heights High School as a youth and was named Ohio’s Class A High School Basketball Player of the Year before beginning a highly successful coaching career in the NBA.
He died in 2015 aged just 60 after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Legendary NBA coach Flip Saunders' widow, Debbie Saunders, and son Ryan Saunders at the newly refurbished Flip Saunders Recreation Courts at Upper Park in Brooklyn Heights. (Photo Courtesy of Miruna Mostardi/MTA Sports)
His family is proud to continue his legacy in his hometown community. The Flip Saunders Legacy Fund donated $75,000 to assist the Village of Brooklyn Heights in refurbishing and renovating Upper Park.
The fund is headed by Ryan Saunders, who said: “Our family, led by my mother, Debbie, has been looking for meaningful ways to honor my dad’s life since he passed. This was the perfect opportunity to do something that he would be very proud of -- improve a park and court that meant so much to him and his love for basketball and, finally, continue to be a part of the community of Brooklyn Heights.
“That park and court meant so much to him growing up. My dad and my late Uncle Greg -- who was Dad’s older brother -- spent many days and hours on the old basketball courts. Dad always attributed his time there and coming up in Cuyahoga Heights with his love for basketball,” Ryan said.
“We know that he would be thrilled to see this area making an impact on generations to come.”
Flip Saunders began his coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College, where he compiled a 92-13 record, including a perfect 56-0 mark at home, in four seasons.
He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA in 1995 as general manager, where he was then named head coach and held that position for 17 years.
In 2020, the south gymnasium at Cuyahoga Heights High School was renamed in his honor.
“I think any time there is an area where people of all ages can be active, build camaraderie within their community and create memories, it is a great thing,” Ryan said.
“Our family hopes that the courts especially foster a love for the game for the children and families of Brooklyn Heights. And we hope the entire park now provides an updated space to have safe fun with friends.”
Ryan has had success himself following in his father’s basketball coaching footsteps -- his team the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals for the first time in the team’s history just last month.
“It’s a feeling that is hard to put into words. A lot of sacrifices have to be made to achieve this ultimate goal, and this team did that. Any time you have great talent and great people, great things can happen,” he said.
“And I know Flip would have been very happy and proud to see something that began for him in Brooklyn Heights lead to his son being part of a team that won an NBA championship.”
Mayor Mike Procuk said the dedication featured a basketball clinic and tournament, a pickleball exhibition, music and activities, including a bouncy house, balloon twister and face painting, as well as hot dogs for everyone who attended.
“Although mostly complete, a new restroom facility will be added in the fall due to successfully applying and being awarded funding through Community Development Block Grants,” Procuk said.
“The village funded the remainder of the project.”
Read more from the Parma Sun Post.