Meek Mill Joins City Officials To Unveil Renovated Basketball Courts In North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Meek Mill made a guest appearance Saturday afternoon as city officials revealed renovated basketball courts in North Philadelphia. Mill surprised residents for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and block party at the Strawberry Mansion Legacy Courts in East Fairmount Park.
Mill, Puma, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation worked together to host the Legacy Courts Block Party.
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The basketball courts are located close to the neighborhood Mill grew up in.
"In Philadelphia there are over 4,000 works of art," Mural Arts Philadelphia executive director Jane Golden said, "so Meek Mill, you're an inspiration because you're a testament to what art, music, arts and culture mean."
The block party was held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the courts on Saturday.
Mill is a criminal justice reform activist. He recently had a 2008 drug and gun conviction overturned. He's now awaiting to see if a new trial will be ordered.
Throughout his career and legal troubles, Mill has stayed committed to his neighborhood. A fact not overlooked at the unveiling.
"A lot of people make it, come back for a minute, get a little cameras and then they're gone," Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke said. "My man, he keeps coming back and I'm loving it."
Mill, Puma and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation announced the plans to refurbish the court in October 2018.
This year, the city designated March 14 as Meek Mill Day.
CBS3's Howard Monroe contributed to this report.
