When lifelong Arcadia resident Sean Brown heard the city would not include basketball courts at the renovated Eisenhower Park, he was disappointed because he had played there growing up.

But he wasn’t spurred to action until he heard that at the City Council’s Aug. 20 meeting, Councilman Roger Chandler said he wouldn’t want the basketball courts rebuilt there because he doesn’t like the “type” they attract.

A banner hung outside Arcadia’s Eisenhower Park reads, “Remove Intolerance, Not Basketball.” A newly approved park renovation plan removes basketball as one of the park’s offerings. (Photo by Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

More than 60 people attended a protest outside Arcadia’s Eisenhower Park Sunday over the removal of the park’s basketball courts. (Photo by Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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Arcadia resident Sean Brown wears a name tag reading “Basketball ‘Type'” in reference to a comment made by City Councilman Roger Chandler about basketball courts attracting a type of people he would not want to drive into the city. (Photo by Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

A banner hung on Arcadia’s Eisenhower Park reads, “Arcadia Accepts All,” in reference to a comment made by City Councilman Roger Chandler about how basketball courts attract a type of people he wants to drive into the city. (Photo by Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Arcadia Mayor April Verlato, right, was one of 60 people at a protest Sunday over the removal of basketball courts at Eisenhower Park. (Photo by Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)



“There’s not one police report about these basketball courts,” Brown, 31, said. “They’re used by kids and families. To say that they attract an undesirable ‘type’ is going a step too far.”

Brown was one of more than 60 people who protested outside the now-razed Eisenhower Park in Arcadia on Sunday afternoon. Signs hung on the fencing around the park read, “Remove Intolerance, Not Basketball” and “Arcadia Accepts All.”

The City Council last week recommitted to an improvement plan which permanently eliminates Eisenhower Park’s basketball courts. The move, approved 3-2 by Councilmen Tom Beck, Sho Tay and Chandler, upset many community members.

At the Aug. 20 City Council meeting, Chandler said that when the courts were in use, they attracted unauthorized and unsanctioned basketball tournaments, driving away picnickers at Eisenhower Park, which he called the most popular of Arcadia parks for that activity.

“I’ve personally observed the folks, and they’re not the type I would drive into Arcadia, nor is their language conducive to children playing,” Chandler said during the meeting.

Resident Sraav Donthineni, who organized the protest, said no one in Arcadia wants to demonstrate, but the City Council left locals little choice but to publicly protest the decision.

Donthineni, 31, said residents who spoke at last week’s meeting believed their concerns were brushed aside, especially when Beck admonished them for not speaking in prior discussions about the park plan.

“We were met with open hostility, and they openly dismissed our opinions,” Donthineni said. “Our only option is to make noise and say that’s not OK.”

Resident Stephen Lee, 31, said while he didn’t believe Chandler’s mention of the type of people attracted by basketball was racist, he believed it contained racial undertones not befitting of Arcadia.

“We think diversity and inclusivity is wonderful,” Lee said. “Arcadia is so diverse, and the statements made by Chandler don’t reflect what the majority of Arcadians believe.”

Mayor April Verlato said Friday that she didn’t believe Chandler’s comment about the type of people basketball courts attract was meant to be racist, but she believe it was perceived that way and that Chandler should apologize.

Verlato, who attended Sunday’s protest wearing a L.A. Clippers basketball jersey, urged residents to speak at the Sept. 3 City Council meetings to show the council members who approved the parks plan that the community, especially the residents living near the park, wants basketball there.

“I support the neighbors’ desire to have a community park that welcomes all opportunities for outdoor play,” Verlato said.

While Beck said last week he believed the renovated park would be too cramped with basketball courts added back into the design, Verlato said that with nothing built yet, it would be easy enough to go back to the drawing board and select a design that accommodates the game.

The approved renovated park plan includes a baseball diamond and a large picnic area. It’s expected to cost more than half of the city’s parks fund, nearly $6.3 million.

Resident Gemma Araiza said her children and grandchildren have used the park to host family parties and for everyday use for the past 31 years and have never encountered any bad “type” of people around the basketball courts or elsewhere there.

“The park is pretty special to me,” Araiza said. “We’ve never had problems. It’s kids and families and adults, and no one acts inappropriate.”

“Everyone’s just having fun and staying active.”