New Farview sports program connects park players to local high school
Eddie Davis helps correct the shooting form Arman Rice while he practices a layup. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter
Farview Park is introducing its newest non-profit program, Farview North, that aims to create a pipeline from the Farview Parks’ recreational basketball and football programs to North High School.
As a former Polar and former Farview kid himself, founder and coach Edward “Eddie” Davis played alongside talented athletes at the local recreation centers. But he noticed many would leave the community to play for other schools.
He created Farview North with the goal to restore youth sports on the Northside and keep athletic talent from leaving home.
“The whole outcome and this program is to run a pipeline to North’s football and basketball programs,” David said. “Kids do have a choice about where they want to go, but it's our job to help them understand that there's nothing wrong with playing here.”
The program is starting with one 11U basketball team and is planning to branch into football next fall.
In December, parents and their children lined up for tryouts to pioneer the program and the first-ever team hit the courts in January. The team is currently 2-0.
Lupita Sherrod recently pulled her son Cameron from a program in Brooklyn Park when she heard about the Farview North program.
“I know that he (Davis) has a passion for it,” Sherrod said. “There's not a lot of space for young kids nowadays, and it's crippling to them, because they have no place to go. I want my son to be a part of this.”
With his young team and new program, another goal of Davis’ is to bring back the “glory days” of Park Board basketball.
“When I was a kid and I played for Farview, this was a park that was always busy,” he said. “And it breaks my heart that that's not really going on right now.”
In recent years, Farview has struggled with attendance and retention and are still recovering from a combination of the pandemic and a negative narrative that surrounds the community.
“Davis came to me with the idea and I was all for it,” said W.H Nelson, a Farview staff member for 24 years. “ I figured we can fix the wrinkles along the way. But right now, we need something positive in our program going so that we can get kids back into the building.”
Davis hopes to generate some excitement for the new program. He also wants to use it as a vessel to save young lives.
Eddie Davis wants kids to have the same positive experience n the parks he had growing up. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
“Sports is what kept me out of trouble, and they continue to keep all types of kids out of trouble,” Davis said. “Kids in our community tend to wander to the streets, because that's the thing to do when there's nothing to do.”
He remembered important people in his life, all former coaches, who supported his journey through sports and beyond. Two of which are those he is now collaborating with to build the program.
North High Athletic Director Kale Severson and football coach Charles Adams are other crucial pillars to Davis’ dream. Both coached Davis when he was a kid and when Davis went to them with his idea of the program, they fully supported the opportunity.
“My goal is to bring the community back into our parks,” Severson said. “Davis was the perfect choice to start this program because he is someone who's been through our system.”
Although Farview North has just one team now, Severson has big plans for the future of recreational sports on the Northside.
While the Farview North builds its momentum, Davis will continue to wash cars and rally for donations to keep his program funded.
“I’m ready to make a difference,” Davis said. “Let’s play.”