The Park League was founded in 2018 by Kevin Burns, who was just 13 years old at the time — a 7th grader at Lavallette School, dreaming big while sitting in Mrs. Dalberg’s Language Arts class. What began as a simple way to bring his friends together and steer clear of trouble has since grown into a summer staple for Lavallette and the surrounding Jersey Shore community. Built on passion, competition, and connection, The Park League has become more than just a league, it’s a family. 

Kevin, now a student manager for Arkansas Men’s Basketball under Coach John Calipari and a former Division I football walk-on at Southern Miss, created something that has touched lives far beyond what he ever imagined as numerous players who once suited up in The Park League have gone on to excel at the next level.

But perhaps the most meaningful moment in league history came in 2019. Just before a game, a kind couple, Mr. Dave Daly and Mrs. Nancy Daly, approached the group. They told us they built the courts in memory of their son, George Daly, who passed away far too soon on February 12, 2015, at just 20 years old. George was everything you’d hope a young man would be: smart, driven, and full of heart. He was a varsity baseball and basketball player, an honors student studying molecular biology at Pitt, and above all, a loving son, brother, and friend who left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. His legacy of excellence, service, and kindness is something we strive to honor every time we take the court. 

Since that day, the Daly family has become a part of ours, supporting, uplifting, and reminding us of what this league truly stands for: purpose, community, and heart.