After a recent string of shootings in Albany, residents and community organizers are finding new approaches to address violence in the city.

Organizers held youth basketball registration near the Elizabeth Street Park basketball court. They say positive activities will keep kids engaged this summer and off the streets.

"I like to dream big and go to the league and play people I haven't played before," said Albany resident Rashim Rondon, 14.

Trying not to let their outreach efforts go in vain, they've been calling on the city to get this court in working order by the end of the summer.

"We had a meeting with the commissioner, and he promised last summer the parks were going to be done," said community activist James Tucker.

He says the parks commissioner promised to pay for things like lights, blacktop repair, and safety fences to make the more-than-20-year-old court functional. They're still waiting for that to happen.

"Basketball can get these kids off the street, even if it's for a few hours," said Brian Hines, founder of the Dunkin Hines Basketball Competitions.

Organizers and players are hoping to get the city on board with reparing the courts, so they can began training for local tournaments this summer. Spectrum News reached out to park officials, but we have yet to receive a response.