WINCHESTER — Hoop dreams have come true at the Russ Potts Basketball Courts in Winchester’s Jim Barnett Park thanks to a $25,000 gift from the James R. Wilkins Charitable Trust.

The three 41-year-old outdoor courts were upgraded and improved earlier this year, and Winchester Parks and Recreation officials were so pleased with the end result that they invited some special guests to check them out on Monday evening: James R. “Jim” Wilkins Jr., his wife, Roni Wilkins, and his sister, Donna Wilkins Downing, all affiliated with the charitable trust established by James R. Wilkins Sr.; and Emily Potts, widow of former state Sen. Russell H. “Russ” Potts Jr.

“Oh, he’d be thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Emily Potts said of her husband, who spearheaded the installation of the courts in 1984 that are named in his father’s honor. “When I look at this, I think about my husband.”

Russ Potts Jr., a lifelong Winchester resident who served in the Virginia Senate from 1992 to 2008, died on Dec. 19, 2021, at the age of 82.

“I’m so appreciative of what Jimmy Wilkins and his family have done,” Emily Potts said. “I’m very touched.”

“Russ loved Winchester, loved sports,” Jim Wilkins Jr. said of his friend and former classmate at Handley High School.

When asked to reflect on his high school days with Russ Potts Jr., Jim Wilkins Jr. grinned and said he’d better not say anything, “at least not with a reporter here.”

Winchester Parks and Recreation Director Chris Konyar said the basketball court improvements came about when officials determined last fall that the first of the three outdoor courts at the southern end of Jim Barnett Park was damaged and needed repair, and the other two courts were showing their age.

“We had some leftover funding and we got Court 1 done, but we didn’t have money to do Court 2 and Court 3,” Konyar said on Monday.

Konyar discussed the situation with James R. “Richie” Wilkins III of the Wilkins Charitable Trust and was advised to submit a funding request to the foundation in February.

“They approved it,” Konyar said of the $25,000 request. “Both courts were done in April so we could host Zach’s summer league in June.”

Konyar was referring to Zach Harrell-Zook, the head coach of boys’ basketball at Handley High School who hosts a competitive summer league for local basketball players.

“We had eight teams out here this summer,” Harrell-Zook said. “We had three or four food trucks out here, people were lined up around the perimeter and we had some really, really good teams. It was awesome.”

Harrell-Zook added that he enjoys seeing young people playing outdoors and he believes the upgraded Russ Potts Basketball Courts will bring more of them to the park.

The renovated courts, located next to the southern end of Wilkins Lake in Jim Barnett Park, have new asphalt surfaces, sturdy poles with perforated steel backboards and lighting that is bright enough to allow for nighttime play.

“They’re not like the basketball hoops you see in your driveway,” Konyar said, adding that the upgraded courts should last for at least 20 or 25 years.

Konyar praised Wilson’s Asphalt Maintenance of Winchester for its stellar work with the new court surfaces and basketball poles.

“They’re phenomenal,” he said.

Eventually, Konyar said he hopes to add seating around the courts so spectators can enjoy watching the basketball games played there.

To learn more about the recreational facilities and programs in Jim Barnett Park, visit winchesterva.gov/parks-recreation.