Island Garden is the premier youth sports facility in the Northeast. Island Garden is the home of the Long Island Lightning, AAU District Championships, Adult leagues, youth leagues, clinics, camps, birthday parties and more. For several years, Jim Fox dreamed of building a facility that would be the Mecca of youth basketball on Long Island. Jim had been heavily involved in coaching and administering various youth leagues on a voluntary basis and recognized the demand for facilities which was scarce and often limited to inadequate church auditoriums. Kids and their parents wanted to play more, yet there were not many places that were available.