Detroit — Forty years after St. Cecilia Parish opened up its facilities to the community as a safe haven on Detroit’s west side, the center reintroduced the center – known as ‘The Saint’ – complete with a new gym floor on June 24.



“We just want to continue the legacy and give the kids in the community the opportunity to continue this tradition,” said Ceciliaville’s executive director Sam Washington, Jr., whose father started the program following the Detroit race riots.

Sam Washington, Sr., started basketball camps at St. Cecilia as a way to keep Detroit’s youngsters away from gangs and violence.

Since its start, some of the city’s best-known local basketball stars have come from the program. Michigan basketball players Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Robert “Tractor” Traylor are some of the most recent big names. National Basketball Association legends Earvin “Magic” Johncon and George “Ice Man” Gervin also had been part of the Ceciliaville programs in their youths.



Ceciliaville’s refreshing came due to its donors. St. Cecilia pastor Fr. Theodore Parker and Ceciliaville executive director Sam Washington Jr. thanked The Links, Great Lakes Chapter, for its donation for the new gym floor.

Also on hand June 24 was state senator Bert Johnson (D-Detroit).

Following the ceremonial reopening, four Detroit high school teams took to the new-look court for basketball games. The Ceciliaville Summer High School Basketball League started the next day and will run through mid-August.