GREENSBURG, Ind. — An idea discovered on a phone while vacationing — and inspired by a basketball tree halfway around the world — has taken root at Decatur County Park.
The Rotary Club of Greensburg 3437 District 6580 officially dedicated its new basketball tree Monday, Aug. 31, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony bringing together Rotarians, community leaders and park officials.
Rotarian Steve Freeman, project chairman, said the idea began when he and his fiancée, Lori Feldbauer, were on vacation and she spotted a photo of an orange basketball tree in Australia.
“She was scrolling through her phone, and this orange tree came up and caught her attention,” Freeman said. “We started looking, and it was a basketball tree similar to this, but it was in Australia.”
They thought something similar would be a unique addition to Greensburg and Decatur County. Freeman brought the idea home to Rotary, where the club’s board supported pursuing the project and funding was secured through a Rotary District 6580 Foundation grant.
Freeman emphasized that no taxpayer dollars were used.
“It’s all Rotary and private donations,” he said.
Bill Robbins and Larry and Bev Moore also helped financially with portions of the project.
Building the basketball tree presented an unusual challenge — there were no blueprints.
Freeman contacted K-Fab of Greensburg, which was asked to fabricate the structure using only the photograph of the Australian basketball tree as a guide.
“They said, ‘Where are the blueprints?’ And I’m like, ‘There are no blueprints,’” Freeman recalled.
K-Fab successfully designed and built the structure. Additional work included the concrete pad and installation of the basketball rims and nets, with Rotarians helping complete the final assembly.
For Freeman, the project’s success became evident almost immediately.
“The next morning, I drove by, and there were kids out here playing, and that’s what it was all about,” he said.
Chris Noblitt, executive director of the Decatur County Parks and Recreation Department, called the basketball tree a fun addition for the community and said he looks forward to seeing how much use it receives.
Brian Robbins, executive director of the Greensburg Decatur County Economic Development Corporation and president of the Decatur County Parks Board, said recreational amenities also contribute to economic development.
“It all adds to quality of life, and that makes Greensburg and Decatur County a better place to live,” Robbins said. “That in itself is economic development.”
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh praised Rotary’s continued investment in the community and said the basketball tree provides something both unique and innovative.
“Get outside, play, enjoy some time in the sunshine,” Marsh encouraged.
Mandy Jo Lohrum, 2026-27 first-quarter president of the Rotary Club of Greensburg, said the project demonstrates how contributions to The Rotary Foundation can ultimately return to communities through district grants.
“We bring people together in our community and our world to make it a better place,” Lohrum said.
She also invited community members interested in giving back to consider Rotary membership.
“You just need to care about the community and be willing to get involved,” Lohrum said.
Greensburg Community High School Athletic Director Stacy Meyer and varsity boys basketball coach Colin Rigby, a member of Greensburg’s 2013-14 state championship team, also attended the dedication.
Article submitted by Jeff Emsweller with Greensburg Rotary
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