MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee graphic designer always knew he wanted to give something back to the community.

Jonathan Holt, 39, grew up in the Rufus King neighborhood.

“This court means freedom, love, family, tradition,” Holt said. “I call it home.”

Nineteen years in the making, last week Holt put the finishing touches on Killiebrew Court which is dedicated to his friend Ervin Killiebrew, an avid basketball player from the neighborhood who died from a heart condition at 17.

“We always talked about the future of the court. It meant a lot to us,” Holt said. “I wanted to dedicate it to someone who loved this court as much as I did.”

Holt grew up just a block away. Yet, it was on this basketball court formerly known as the Tott Lott that he called home.

“It’s a safe haven,” he said. “It’s always been a safe haven for me. I could’ve been out in the streets.. this became the place to keep me out of trouble.”

Growing up, the basketball court provided a safe haven for Holt and his friends. 

“You didn’t have to pretend to be anything but yourself,” he said. “On the court, you were always embraced, you were always loved by the older people … even the drug dealers that came up here showed you love because they didn’t want you to go down a path that they went down.”

Holt designed, created, and painted the court for the kids living in the Rufus King neighborhood and to bridge the gap between young and old. 

“A lot of the old people don't know the young people here so I want to bridge that gap and make it a safe haven for the younger kids like it was for me and my friends,” Holt said.