LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
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thought and philosophy at St. Vincent College and Seminary in Latrobe, Pa. for two years, lived in Israel and served other congregations on the East Coast. His passion for the game continued into adulthood as an avid player in pick-up games. In 1981, Brenner invented a variation of basketball that he simply called "Bankshot," a game that wheelchair and able- bodied athletes could play together, with neither at a disadvantage. His inspiration for Bankshot came from his cousin, Janice Herman, a wheelchair athlete. Size, quickness and strength are really not factors in his game. Intelligence and shooting touch are what counts," explains Brenner. There is no running, no jumping, no offense, no defense. Participants play alongside, not against each other. It is essentially a nonaggressive, accessible and inclusionary sport. In this spirit, he also founded the National Association for Recreational Equality (NARE). Bankshot has been described as "a mini-golf game with a basketball," but unlike mini-golf, a Bankshot court requires much less space, as the game is vertical, not horizontal. Most Bankshot courts have 19-stations, although the set up in the Deicke Park South Playground in Huntley Park is 12 stations with colorful backboards in varying shapes and dimensions and rims at different heights, plus one standard basketball backboard and rim. Players of course try to make baskets by banking the ball in off the backboard. Three shooting positions are marked in color in front of each basket. The final station is trickier, with two backboards/ rims stacked atop one another, so the shooter aims to direct the ball through both rims. Because of the varying heights of the rims and backboard dimensions players have to adjust the heights, arcs and angels of their shots. A soft touch helps. Top There are four separate areas that feature safety rubber surfacing (SpectraPour from SpectraTurf), each with a separate identity. The swing area has a rocket ship motif, with regular swing seating and molded bucket swings with harnesses. Bottom "Make a Masterpiece," proclaims the blackboard sign. It's good to see such a basic, simple, tactile "wall" for kids to be creative by their own hands and minds. October 2012 53