WASHINGTON — 14-year-old Bryant Cain and his younger brothers live in Lafayette, but stay at their uncle's home in Washington quite often. Right by their house in the Washington Recreation Center, the only place in town that he and their friends can play basketball.
"It feels good, I have been playing basketball for a very long time," Cain said.
He says every time they visit, they go shoot hoops...until recently. Mayor Jim Olivier had the basketball hoops removed Monday evening.
"I just feel bad for kids, I bet they're crying right now, saying why are they taking down the goals, because sports is everything to me," Cain said.
Alderwoman-at-large Mona Wilson says the removal of the goals was a complete shock to her.
"The children need somewhere to go, and I thought this was a negative thing to have them removed and not let anyone know," Wilson said.
Olivier spoke to KATC on the phone and said that over the weekend, authorities received noise complaints during after hours. He said he wasn't sure if the insurance covered the area.
Wilson says as a rental pavilion, it should be covered.
"As a municipality we should have liability insurance, and that should fall within the liability loop. This building, as well this facility right here, the pavilion should be in the liability loop," Wilson said.
Wilson says the removal should have been brought before the council. In two weeks, she will bring up the issue at the next council meeting.
"It's supposed to come to the council, and this was not brought to the council," Wilson said.
Olivier would not speak on camera, but says he is waiting to hear back from the insurance company and the goals will be back before the summer.
