A major makeover of one of the city’s oldest recreational venues is in full swing and should be complete before the end of summer.
According to Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Joe Shuttleworth, several major projects at Compton Park are progressing nicely, and some are complete. Most recently, a major part of one of the biggest parts of the makeover – redoing the basketball courts – saw a huge step taken.
“Originally, we looked at originally just tearing out the asphalt courts, repave them, and do a color coating. Once we started tearing them out, we found a lot of water issues and we scrapped the idea,” said Shuttleworth. “There has been a cracking issue with the courts as the result of water coming off the hillside as well as some natural springs.”
That led Shuttleworth to meet with Bridgeport City Engineer Beth Fox and Assistant Jake Griffith. She said both felt the best long-term solution would be concrete to stand up longer to the water problem, Shuttleworth said.
Although a much more expensive proposition, one thing worked in the city’s favor. Bridgeport Public Works has its own concrete crew.
“That is an extremely competent and talented crew that does sidewalks and other works throughout the city,” said Shuttleworth. “We discussed it internally and it was agreed to have the crew do the concrete work on this project.”
Over the last couple of weeks, those driving by likely have seen the crew hard at work in the blistering heat. Not only was the main court replaced, but also the smaller court at the park. Public Works Director Kenneth “Tiny” Grimes said 120 yards of cement was poured.
Shuttleworth estimated it was roughly $25,000 in concrete and supplies. He said the Parks Department was “appreciative of Public Works for their skill and help in this endeavor."
Along with that work, Shuttleworth said a contract with Musco Lighting and work by Mountain State Electrical, putting in new electrical service for Musco, has been completed. Shuttleworth said a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system is in place that came with a $35,000 price tag.
“This is lighting that will allow for play in the evenings up to a point,” said Shuttleworth of the system placing 30-year-old-plus lights. “The system is highly cost effective by using hardly any electricity and engineering to have little spillage. In fact, if you’re in the parking lot looking at the court that is lit up, the parking lot will be dark because the lights are contained to the playing surface.”
Shuttleworth said the next step is to have fiberglass backboards installed. Those, he said, will not only look good, but will hold up well.
The project will wrap up once the new concrete courts are resurfaced. The contractor will come in and resurface the basketball courts, as well as the tennis courts and Deegan and Hinkle Lakes, and the basketball courts at City Park.
“It’s like an acrylic covering on the court. It helps with traction … and it self-leveling. After that, it’s colored and lined,” said Shuttleworth.
Due to the resurfacing being specialized work, the city has to get in line to have the contractor – The Vasco Group out of Ohio – do the work. Shuttleworth said the anticipation is for work to start in the first week of September. The cost for the resurfacing is $16,000.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows some of the cement work done earlier this month, while the Compton Park sign is shown below.
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