Bronx officials and kids wasted no time making use of the new amenities at Devoe Park.

City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe was fast on his feet during an inaugural game of hoops at Devoe Park’s renovated basketball courts, though local teens gave him a run for his money.

Benepe and a bevy of officials came to the University Heights park on Nov. 30 to mark the completion of major capital improvements for the green space.

“I am very excited to be in the Bronx,” said Benepe before cutting the ceremonial ribbon on $477,000 worth of renovations. Other attendees included Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión; Council Member Maria Baez; Hector Aponte, the newly appointed Bronx parks commissioner; and Community Board 7 members.

The allocation, made by Baez, went to relocating two basketball courts to the east so as to avoid the large trees that had grown on their perimeter. The courts were redesigned with new fencing and drinking fountains. With space freed up in Devoe’s center, a long, open grassy area was added along with new pathways and a better drainage system.

The construction began in 2003 but was delayed by contractor issues and a long, wet winter. Devoe advocates were happy to see the project finally come to an end.

“It is great to see the redesign of the park completed and I look forward to having a park that more people will use,” said Paul Vonseckendorff of Friends of Devoe Park, a volunteer group.

Children from the nearby Tolentine Zeiser Head Start program, which uses the park’s play space, came out to cheer its opening. “It’s another great day when we get to open up a park for children,” Carrión said.

Before shooting hoops, Benepe made reference to the $240 million that the city promises for Bronx parks in exchange for siting the filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park.

“This is a small example of what we hope to do over the next five years,” said Benepe, who mentions the windfall often these days. “We hope to change a lot of neighborhoods … and green [Bronx] parks.”