Rotary Clubs’ middle school basketball cage project dedicated Saturday

 RED OAK – With nearly 200 people attending including dozens of children, the Red Oak community celebrated the dedication of the new middle school basketball cage Saturday. 

A project started by the Red Oak Rotary Club more than two years ago was completed earlier this summer, a culmination of a community-wide partnership. 

Cage Committee Chair and former Rotary Club President Doug Reiken cited several partners in the effort, including the Red Oak School District, the City of Red Oak and the Park and Tree Board, the Montgomery County Foundation, Pete Crawford with JFSCO Engineering, Daric O’Neal with Alley Poyner Macchietto, Scott Wilson and the Green Tree Company, Greg Orear and the Red Oak Express and Jerry Dietz with KCSI. 

However, Reiken emphasized the scores of private citizens who truly made the project possible. 

“Mostly, it’s the people of this community that did this,” Reiken said. “Without their support, this wouldn’t be here.”

Reiken said the Rotary Club, at the suggestion of member Nick Zimmer, had decided to replace the former cage at the cost of about $100,000. Instead of simply replacing the concrete, chain  link fence and basketball goals, the club decided to pursue an “enhanced” version of the project that includes a seating area, landscaping and eventually, lighting at a total cost of about $225,000.

“This is just a little bit different than what we planned,” Reiken said. “It was a major, major change.”

With their sights set on a much bigger goal, a committee comprised of school, Rotary and community members formed. 

Red Oak Superintendent Terry Schmidt was part of that committee and praised the group for its dedication. 

“There were a lot of decisions made at those early Friday morning meetings,” Schmidt said. 

“Without that commitment and passion, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Former Rotary District Gov. Dick Gelusha recalled visiting Red Oak and seeing the cage before it was replaced. 

“First, it was nothing and we watched over the years as it grew,” he said. “When we walked in today, we were amazed how beautiful it is. It’s great to see what this club and town could do when they pulled together.”

While the facility has been available for use for several months, money is still being raised for the installation of lights.