City of Philadelphia - File #: 221016

• File #: 221016
• Version: 0
• Type: Bill
• Status: ENACTED
• File created: 12/15/2022
• In control: Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
• Final action: 6/22/2023
• Title: Naming and designating the Chew Playground basketball courts, located at 1800 Washington Avenue, the "Rasual Butler Basketball Courts," in honor of Point Breeze native Rasual Butler, who distinguished himself over a 14-year NBA career, most notably with the Miami Heat.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember Thomas
• Indexes: NAMING OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
7/12/2023	0	MAYOR	SIGNED
6/22/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL
6/8/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL
6/8/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL
6/8/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL
6/6/2023	0	Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs	HEARING NOTICES SENT
6/6/2023	0	Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs	HEARING HELD
6/6/2023	0	Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs	REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED
12/15/2022	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Referred

Title
Naming and designating the Chew Playground basketball courts, located at 1800 Washington Avenue, the "Rasual Butler Basketball Courts," in honor of Point Breeze native Rasual Butler, who distinguished himself over a 14-year NBA career, most notably with the Miami Heat.

Body
WHEREAS, Rasual Butler, born as Felix Rasual Cheeseborough, grew up in South Philadelphia, where he was raised in a tight-knit extended family. His grandparents owned a grocery store on Point Breeze Avenue, where he started working as soon as he was old enough to help out; and

WHEREAS, Butler's love of basketball began from a young age, on the basketball courts at Chew Playground, which are to be renamed in his honor. He went on to participate in the Sonny Hill Community Involvement League, Philadelphia's storied amateur summer basketball organization, founded in 1968 as a safe haven from the streets; and

WHEREAS, Butler starred for his Roman Catholic High School team and his obvious talents blossomed in his senior year, when he averaged 26.7 points per game. He was named to the All-Catholic and All-City teams and recognized recognized nationally as a third-team Parade All-American . Butler was hotly recruited by Kentucky, Connecticut, Syracuse, and Providence, before settling on La Salle to stay close to home; and

WHEREAS, Butler played his college career with the La Salle Explorers. He became the sixth Explorer to score over 2,000 points. He was recognized for his talent and named to the First Team All-Atlantic 10 and was selected to the Verizon Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship All-Tournament team in 2002. He was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 2008, where at the time of his induction he ranked fourth among the Explorers' all-time scorers; and

WHEREAS, Butler starred at both Roman Catholic and La Salle with Donnie Carr, whom he first met as boy on the basketball courts at Chew Playground. Carr recalls:

"He was an underdog. You can find guys that were m...