It’s not often a community park gets a generous donation from a professional basketball player, especially one who seems to have has no ties to the area. But, sometimes the stars align and surprising things happen.

Amar’e Stoudemire, center, paints with children at the “In the Paint” event at Pan Pacific Park on Tuesday. The NBA star donated $20,000 for sports programs. (photo by Patricia Sanchez)

Such was the case Tuesday night at Pan Pacific Park, located at 7600 Beverly Blvd., when Miami Heat player Amar’e Stoudemire and local Los Angeles artist Marquis Lewis, better known as Retna, came together for the first installment of “In the Paint,” a series of events at which kids join artists and basketball players to paint and play.

In addition to his “In the Paint” series, Stoudemire also donated $20,000 to the park, the largest in history from an NBA player to Pan Pacific Park.

According to Annamaria Galbraith, a supervisor with the city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the money will go toward sports programs for the park.

“[In the Paint] is all working together for the community,” Galbraith said. “The kids are very excited to paint, and [Stoudemire’s] donation will help the park tremendously.”

The event came together in a very “unusual” way, noted Galbraith. Local lawyer and Pan Pacific Park Advisory Board member Michael Goldstein, who has been coaching basketball at Pan Pacific Park for the past eight years, is a longtime friend of Retna’s, who just happens to know Stoudemire, a Florida native. When the NBA player came to town for a Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Clippers game, Goldstein reached out to Retna and Stoudemire to organize an event to give back to the park.

“I’m a huge fan of Pan Pacific Park,” Goldstein said. “Retna is a dear friend and also my client. He himself has come here for years and years. This is where he came to play as a child and he and Amar’e Stoudemire wanted to do an art project together … and Amar’e just happened to be in town … so I thought it’d be a perfect opportunity to raise money for Pan Pacific Park, a park that’s very near and dear to my heart.”

After reaching out, the Pan Pacific Park Advisory Board was able to coordinate with the artist and NBA player to create an event that allowed local youth to shoot hoops and to paint with the two celebrities.

“We just thought we’d do something wonderful for the parks,” Goldstein said. “The idea was to have an amazing time and let the kids experience an amazing artist and an amazing athlete and bring it all together into one project.”

During the event, children excitedly lined up to paint and to play basketball. Six-year-old Tabby Gathman said she was excited to create art with other children, and her brother Logan was excited to meet Stoudemire.

“I like to paint and use a lot of colors,” Tabby said. “I’m a little nervous but I can’t wait.”

Their father, Justin Gathman, said it’s great to see the park host such events.

“We live down the street from this park and we come here at least a couple times a week,” Gathman said. “My kids love this park, and it’s exciting to be able to take them to something like this.”

Retna said he was happy to be a part of the event and saw it not just as a service to the area and Pan Pacific Park, but to multiple communities.

“What we’re doing is bringing together two different things – basketball and art,” Retna said. “A lot of people know Stoudemire, and I’m sure there are people here from different places. So, it gives back to the community, but it also unites people from all over.”

Stoudemire said he is a big supporter of art, and he and Retna had been looking to find a place to start the “In the Paint” series. When he was approached by Goldstein, he saw it as the perfect opportunity. Giving back to different communities, he said, is always something he strives for.

“It’s beautiful,” said Stoudemire. “You know what I do with the Melech Collection is going to be something that we can all enjoy because it gives back to the community and it brings art and basketball together.”

“In the Paint” will continue, and Pan Pacific Advisory Board members said they are grateful for the donation and event.

“The Pan Pacific Park Advisory Board was established 27 years ago … we’ve been here for so long because of the unique dedication we have to this park and this community,” said Reggie Turner, Pan Pacific Park Advisory Board president. “Tonight is another example of the outreach programs we do to benefit the community.”