Pom poms rustle in the air inside the Christian Park Family Center gymnasium as NCAA President Charlie Baker walks up to the podium.
“There is nothing quite like the echo in a gymnasium, because it’s where an enormous amount of the energy and the excitement that comes with being part of whatever is going on in here,” Baker said.
He and other national and local officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the dedication of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Legacy Project. The initiative aims to complete a project in the host city that will leave a lasting impact. It is a part of the March Madness festivities this year.
Baker said this is roughly the 30th basketball court renovation the collegiate organization has been a part of for the past 15 years. He reflected on the history of the facility, those it served and, now with the renovations, how many it will serve in the future.
“And I’m sure if these walls could talk, they would be able to share decades of young people just having a ball,” Baker said, “and I’m really thrilled that we have so many kids here today, because you’re going to be the ones who have the opportunity to benefit from this place.”
Improvements to the gym include updated graphics and sports lines on the floor, new basketball rims and backboard padding on the wall. In addition, a colorful mural on one wall honors the legacy of Jim Morris. The artwork was painted during the Jim Morris Day of Service in preparation of March Madness.
Outside the gym, the rest of the center underwent a transformation as well. Renovations include an updated fitness center, a new playroom for younger children and a new coat of paint throughout.
Indy Parks Director Brittany Crone said the space has been a critical part of the local neighborhood for generations, serving a vast range of needs.
“Family centers like this one are especially important,” Crone said. “They serve as hubs for the neighborhood. They are places where people can learn, connect and find support.”
As a mom herself, seeing students from Christian Park elementary school in attendance and participating in the dedication was special.
“It’s really for them. It’s for our community. And we don’t just do sports here, right? We do all kinds of programming, including food pantry and even some clothing pantry work. And so it’s a holistic approach to community building that we love at Indy parks,” she said.
And as NCAA President Baker noted, maybe it will be where a future athlete will start their career to the NCAA Final Four, years from now.
The NCAA Legacy Project partners included Indiana Sports Corp. and Dove Men+Care.
