Local Heroes Transform Neglected Hardcourt in Deacons, St Michael: A Story of Community Pride
March 28, 2024
Two young men voluntarily spruce up unkempt hardcourt in Deacons, St Michael, gaining social media praise for their initiative. Danico Watson and Tyrel Belgrave efficiently transformed the area with community support.
Two young men rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty when they saw the unkempt state of the hardcourt in their neighbourhood of Deacons, St Michael.
Danico Watson, 23-year-old and 15-year-old Tyrel Belgrave, in a week’s time, transformed the area, which was blanketed with grass and scattered leaves. This act of lovedrew widespread attention on social media, as the pair was showered with praise for their selfless actions.
Watson, a member of the Deacons Premier League football team, and youth agent for change with the National Peace Programme, says the clean-up process was a collaboration between friends, that began a week ago, on a regular afternoon while they were liming.
“We saw the pasture in disarray. So we were just talking—good laughter, cool breeze—and Tyrel came up with the idea to clean up the pasture. There was a scheduled Masters match game, and the seniors had to come and play that night. The pasture just looked real untidy so we just decided to clean it.”
Since they did not have the tools for the necessary work, the pair got some help from their coach, Albert Mapp, whom they consider a community hero.
“He gave us about ten bags and two rakes, and two pairs of gloves, and we went out on the pasture and we cleaned it up. It helped us a lot because these places like the hardcourt and the pasture play a vital role in our community, it’s where most of the sporting activities happen, and it brings out a lot of people in the community.
“We don’t even feel the work because we are still talking while doing the work. So the days pass and sometimes we don’t even know that we’re out here two hours, or three hours just because we talk foolishness the same as we do on the liming spots,” Watson said.
Tyrel, a student at The Ellerslie School, says the results of his work express the passion he holds for his neighbourhood.
“I want to make sure that my community doesn’t look dirty, I just want to make sure it looks clean so if anybody has to come and visit the community, it would look clean”. (JRN)
