The basketball court at Chew Playground now honors South Philly’s Rasual Butler, who played the sport at the highest level for 14 years.
Mural Arts Philadelphia and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson unveiled the “Here to Create” outdoor basketball court mural honoring Butler at the playground located at 18th Street and Washington Avenue. More than 100 community members and supporters came out to share in the excitement of the colorful new mural that covers an area of 60 by 140 feet on the basketball courts at Chew. Butler, who was born Felix Rasual Cheeseborough, grew up in Point Breeze, not far from Chew Playground.
“Rasual Butler was a beloved member of the Point Breeze community and the Philadelphia basketball community, whose outstanding career began at Chew Playground,” Johnson said. “He is deserving of commemoration via the renaming of the Chew basketball courts in his honor and the dedication of this amazing mural.”
Johnson presented the Butler family with a copy of a bill officially naming the Chew Playground basketball courts the “Rasual Butler Basketball Courts,” in honor of Butler, a journeyman who played 14 years in the NBA with the Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs.
Less than two years after his final NBA appearance, Butler and singer Leah LaBelle were killed in a high-speed car accident in Los Angeles. Butler was 38. He is remembered for his love of basketball growing up in the city, where he attended and played for Roman Catholic High School and La Salle University. In the community, Butler’s grandparents owned a grocery store on Point Breeze Avenue, where he started working as soon as he was old enough to help.
The mural was completed over the course of a month by artists Ivben Taqiy, Calo Rosa and Cristian Esquerrena, along with Mural Arts’ Rec Crew members led by December Collins, although planning the design took about a year.
The plan to have Butler featured on a mural was approved by City Council last year and Johnson and Mural Arts discussed a unique way of honoring Butler. Instead of doing a traditional mural on a wall, it was decided to transform the basketball court Butler played on as a child into a massive mural honoring his life and legacy. With more than 4,000 paintings under its belt, it was just the fourth time Mural Arts painted on top of a basketball court. The colors in the mural represent the various teams he played for during his career, superimposed with a portrait of Butler wearing a No. 45 uniform, which he embodied before wearing Nos. 9, 8, and 18 later in his career. The Butler mural covers a standard 94 by 50 foot court, as well as half-practice courts on both sides.
“Rasual Butler’s legacy extends beyond his remarkable achievements on the court to his profound impact on the Point Breeze community,” said Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “This mural stands as a testament to his enduring influence and our commitment to celebrating local heroes who inspire us all.”
