In Chicago, the removal of basketball hoops and rims has been a growing concern across both city parks and other recreational spaces, with numerous courts affected, including those outside traditional park boundaries. Factors such as increased vandalism, rising maintenance costs, and the shifting priorities of park management officials have contributed to this decline.
A State of the Parks report by Friends of the Parks notes that many parks, particularly on the South and West Sides, are underfunded and burdened by rising maintenance costs, with resources often diverted to address vandalism. According to the Chicago Reader, basketball courts represent the largest number of decommissions by the Chicago Park District.
