Santiago Collado said his life would be very different without sports.

“Basketball is everything to me. I feel like it saved my life, coming from where I come from,” said Collado.

The 20-year-old plays college ball at Bryant and Stratton College in Syracuse, NY— a long way from where he grew up, the Forest Houses. It’s a NYCHA public housing complex in the Bronx’s Morrisania neighborhood.

Every day, for eight hours, he practices on the court, but the conditions of the court would make it hard sometimes.  

“It’s been bad ever since I moved over here: metal back boards. The floors were dirty,” Collado said.

That’s why he was excited to see that the grounds got a facelift. It’s one of 15 basketball courts across the city that the NYPD is renovating. The $4 million project is funded by money the police seized during drug busts.

“Working with federal law partners and district attorneys and said what if we took that money that we seize from drug dealers who do so much harm in our communities and instead of just putting it back in law enforcement, what if we put it back into the community,” said Chauncey Parker, NYPD deputy commissioner for community partnerships.

On Thursday, the department’s top brass, Mayor Bill de Blasio and local leaders were on hand to officially welcome the neighbors to their new court, shoot some hoops and give out toys and prizes. A stark contrast to nine years ago—when four-year-old Lloyd Morgan was shot killed near this very court.

It’s not just basketball courts. There are several initiatives to give young people safe spaces to be this summer and help bridge the gap between police and the communities they serve. As part of the kids first initiative, precincts will offer basketball league tournaments. The department will be hosting Saturday Night Lights at 100 school gyms, so kids can practice sports and play, as well as providing 1,000 teens paid summer jobs with the NYPD.

“Our young people are destined for success. They have so much potential to do better. All they need is access and opportunity. We can’t take away their choices if we want young people to do something different. We have to offer them something different,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson.

Collado said he expects the improved court will make both his game and community better.  

“Make the community better. Stop the violence. Everybody comes together when they play ball, nobody wants to fight,” he said

Once, the first round of NYCHA basket ball courts are complete, other half- and full-size courts will be upgraded.