Hope Mills Preparing to Repair Fire-Damaged VicBlends Basketball Court

The town is preparing to repair the VicBlends Basketball Court at the Hope Mills Municipal Park that was damaged by an arson fire on January 13, Parks and Recreation Director Lamarco Morrison told the Town Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night.

In other matters that the commissioners discussed Tuesday, the board extended a lease to use basketball courts at the T.J. Robinson Life Center, Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said the town needs a new recreation center, the board approved an annexation, and commissioners agreed to pay for a training program for police lieutenants.

VicBlends Basketball Court Fire

VicBlends, a prominent social media influencer and philanthropist from Hope Mills, has said he played basketball at the Municipal Park while growing up, and he refurbished the basketball court. The rehabbed court was dedicated during a Thanksgiving Community Giveback event in November.

Photos published January 15 by the Hope Mills Police Department show that the fire burned away part of the tile playing surface down to the soil underneath, damaged two benches and damaged a fence.

The Hope Mills Fire Department put out the fire. The police said security video showed that a 16-year-old set the fire, and she has been charged with felony burning of personal property valued at $1,000 or more.

VicBlends, whose real name is Victor Fontanez, showed photos on his social media on January 15 from the fire and talked about it.

“They’re very heartbreaking to look at, because we worked really hard on this, and this was supposed to be a positive impact to the community,” he said. “It was supposed to be a safe place for kids to go and chase their dreams at, and somebody decided to take that from them.”

The repair cost is still being assessed by a contractor and will depend on how much work needs to be done, Morrison told the commissioners on Tuesday. So far there is a partial estimate.

“Thus far, replacing the fence, replacing the trash receptacles, and the benches, we’re already at about $12,000 already,” he said.

The damaged surface can be patched, Morrison said. However, he said, there is a liner under the entire court that might need to be replaced if a new portion cannot be spliced to it.

The town is waiting for its insurance carrier to say how much of the repair cost will be covered by insurance, Morrison said. He plans to have more information at the commissioners’ February 2 meeting.

New Recreation Center Needed?

The commissioners unanimously voted to extend the town’s lease of three basketball courts at the T.J. Robinson Life Center by three weeks to March 7, at a cost of $4,600, after the current lease runs out on February 14. This is for youth basketball teams to practice and play through the rest of their season, Morrison said.

The T.J. Robinson Life Center is a private, nonprofit recreation and community center in Hope Mills.

The teams also practice and play at South View Middle and High School, and the Hope Mills Recreation Center, Morrison said. There is growing demand for the town’s recreation programs, he said, and the town needs more facilities.

Mayor Bellflowers agreed.

“An additional recreation facility is not a want, it is a need.” Bellflowers said. “I will continue to champion the need for an additional recreation facility.”

Annexation and Police Training

In other business, the commissioners voted to:

• Annex 2.44 acres on Muscat Road at Fairhaven Trail, owned by Barham Builders, Inc., on the southwest side of town. The commissioners zoned the property for residential use.
• Allow the Police Department to spend $1,500 to have two police lieutenants enroll in a leadership course. The money is coming from the department’s federal asset forfeiture account.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 2, in Town Hall at 7 p.m.