(Greensburg, IN) – The Greensburg Rotary Club dedicated its new basketball tree at Decatur County Park on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Comer.
Rotarian and project chairman Steve Freeman says the idea came when he and his fiancée, Lori Feldbauer, were on vacation and she saw a photo taken in Australia that caught her eye.
“She was scrolling on her phone and she ran across this basketball tree. It was 15 feet in the air and had 15 rims on it. And she said, ‘That would be really cool to have in our community,'” Freeman said. “And we looked at it, and I thought it was crazy. And then I thought, well, maybe we can make this happen because Rotary was looking for a project and they were getting matching grants. So I thought that would be perfect.”
Freeman brought the idea to Rotary, where the club’s board supported pursuing the project and funding was secured through a Rotary District 6580 Foundation grant.
“It’s something unique to our community, and I don’t know of any other in Indiana, at least, so we just wanted to put something out here to bring attention to,” he added.
He adds taxpayer dollars were not used for the project.
“It’s all Rotary and private donations,” Freeman said.
Bill Robbins and Larry and Bev Moore also helped financially with portions of the project.
Building the basketball tree presented an unusual challenge because there were no blueprints.
Freeman contacted K-Fab of Greensburg, which was asked to fabricate the structure using only the photograph of the Australian basketball tree as a guide.
“They said, ‘Where are the blueprints?’ And I’m like, ‘There are no blueprints,’” Freeman said.
K-Fab successfully designed and built the structure. Additional work included the concrete pad and installation of the basketball rims and nets, with Rotarians helping complete the final assembly.
For Freeman, the project’s success became evident almost immediately.
“The next morning, I drove by, and there were kids out here playing, and that’s what it was all about,” he said.
Chris Noblitt, executive director of the Decatur County Parks and Recreation Department, called the basketball tree a fun addition for the community and said he looks forward to seeing how much use it receives.
Brian Robbins, executive director of the Greensburg/Decatur County Economic Development Corporation and president of the Decatur County Parks Board, said recreational amenities also contribute to economic development.
“It all adds to quality of life, and that makes Greensburg and Decatur County a better place to live,” Robbins said. “That in itself is economic development.”
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh praised Rotary’s continued investment in the community and said the basketball tree provides something both unique and innovative.
“Get outside, play, enjoy some time in the sunshine,” Marsh said.
Mandy Jo Lohrum, 2026-27 first-quarter president of the Greensburg Rotary Club, said the project demonstrates how contributions to The Rotary Foundation can ultimately return to communities through district grants.
“We bring people together in our community and our world to make it a better place,” Lohrum said.
Greensburg Community High School Athletic Director Stacy Meyer and boys varsity basketball coach Collin Rigney, a member of Greensburg’s 2013-14 state championship teams, also attended the dedication.
(Greensburg Rotary Club publicity chairman Jeff Emsweller contributed to this story)
