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The death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant has reverberated around the globe, including here in the Tri-Valley, where local business New Ground Technology paid homage this week by unveiling a giant grass mural of the basketball icon on a Pleasanton softball field.
New Ground, which specializes in creating temporary designs on grass fields such as baseball fields or golf courses, is not disclosing the exact location in order to protect the design from excessive foot traffic.
“We were HONORED to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, one amazing person, athlete, husband and father,” the company posted on social media Thursday.
Owner Pete Davis and his wife Kelli Pearson told news outlets that they “love” Bryant, who died last Sunday in Southern California, and wanted to “represent our community and let the community be a part of this closure.”
Two different photos were merged to create an image measuring 115 feet long and 92 feet wide of Bryant, who is smiling in his Los Angeles Lakers team uniform while holding a basketball.
The picture was then fed into a “TurfPrinter” machine resembling a lawn mower that uses GPS and digital processing to blow air that bends the blades either away or toward the viewer, creating a contrast only visible from the sky.
Blades bent toward the earth are lighter, while blades bent toward the viewer are darker. The image was printed in two passes and took about an hour; each pixel of the design equals a three-inch square of grass. The effect lasts a couple days before the grass, which is not harmed by the process, returns to normal.
Bryant, 41, was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday near Calabasas with his daughter Gianna, 13, and seven other people while en route to a basketball game at his private training academy in Newbury Park.
Julia Baum is a staff writer for the Pleasanton Weekly. Reach her at jbaum@pleasantonweekly.com or 925-600-0840, ext. 111.
Julia Baum is a staff writer for the Pleasanton Weekly. Reach her at jbaum@pleasantonweekly.com or 925-600-0840, ext. 111.
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A 115-by-92 foot grass mural of the late NBA player Kobe Bryant at an undisclosed park in Pleasanton has swept the Internet since early Thursday. (Courtesy image) -
New Ground Technology owner Pete Davis is barely visible while standing on a 115-by-92 foot grass mural of the late NBA player Kobe Bryant. Davis’ company created the image this week at an undisclosed park in Pleasanton. (Courtesy image)
Try looking behind Village High School on Bernal ;>)
What a nice tribute to a legend. Condolences also go to the families of those who were with Kobe and his daughter.
The tributes keep on pouring in and he will certainly be missed. I watched him grow up right in front of my eyes as I watched his games. What a tragic loss. https://www.treeservicepickering.com
A guy who was really good at basketball, cheated on his wife, and probably raped a girl died in a helicopter crash. Probably unpopular, but who cares?
Thousands of unrecognized people die every day that contributed more to society than Kobe. His daughter’s death was tragic. His? Meh.
Kobe was making a remarkable history for his community and worldwide through sports (basketball). Sadly his passing is so tragic. Our sincere condolences, your fans from McKinney Stump Grinding – http://mckinneytxstumpgrinding.com/