Connect Bridgeport
Ad
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Anniversaries
    • Announcements
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Churches
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Directory
    • Farmer's Market
    • File Complaint
    • Greeting Cards
    • Library
    • Lost And Found
    • Obituaries
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Sponsorships
  • Trading Post
    • For Sale
    • Local Deals
    • Services
    • Yard Sales
  • Visitors
  • Relocation
  • Education
  • Jobs
  • Alumni
Ad

Massive New Phase at The Bridge Exceeding $6M is Boosted by $1.8M Grant Presented to City by Justice

By Jeff Toquinto on January 07, 2025

Mayor Andy Lang’s smile when talking about a $1.8 million grant the City of Bridgeport received for The Bridge Sports Complex today from Gov. Jim Justice tells you all you need to know about being a bit off base eight years ago if growth at the facility was sustainable.
 
“When I came on board I believed in the project, but never fully believed in the scale of the project in bringing it to a community of our size,” said Lang, talking of the $50 million-plus indoor Citynet Center sitting in the heart of The Bridge property. “We did it, and it’s worked. No one is happier that my initial thought was off base than me.”
 
Lang was pretty happy just after noon today when Justice, along with his beloved English Bulldog Babydog, visited the indoor turf facility at The Bridge to formally present the money from the state.
 
“What you’re doing here with The Bridge Sports Complex is off the charts,” said Justice.
 
The grant rounds out the funding needed for the next phase at The Bridge. Lang said the design phase, handled by planners and engineers Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) out of its Bridgeport location along with BRS Architects, was a constant throughout 2024.
 
The new outdoor portion at The Bridge will feature two full-sized multiple sports use synthetic fields, four little league/softball fields and everything will be illuminated. It will also include start-of-the-art backstops. Lang said there will also be a restroom, changing facility building and parking put in place as well.

“(This grant funding) will all be used for infrastructure,” said Lang.
 
The grant is the result of the staff of The Bridge, under the direction of General Manager Droo Callahan, applying to the state for funding. The grant included $900,000 from the West Virginia Water Development Fund. The Governor’s Office added an additional $900,000 through matching dollars.
       
“Without our city officials and our title sponsor of Citynet, this would not be possible,” said Droo Callahan, General Manager of The Bridge who emphasized their assistance in the grant process.
 
The funding essentially provides Bridgeport with the final amount of money needed to get started. City Manager Pat Ford said the city has nearly $5 million escrowed, giving it more than $6 million that is needed to get started. He said it “helps close out a major capital campaign.”
 
The new portion of outdoor facilities at The Bridge should see ground broken this year. Callahan anticipated construction to start in July of this year with the spring of 2026 as the most optimistic expectation the new facilities will be ready for use. Lang said the project should go out to bid in the first quarter of this year.
 
Although Ford is still new to the city manager’s position, he is far from new at working on the economic development front. And he knows this is good for the community’s use as well as what it means in promoting Bridgeport as a destination.
 
“This facility and its growth have allowed us to become a true fitness community and continue to allow the city to have a true economic generator,” said Ford. “This allows us to grow the opportunities in the hospitality industry, the hotel industry, in the restaurants, and all the other services associated with it.”
 
Ford praised Callahan and staff for tracking the metrics showing that investment is needed to continue growth. He further praised Callahan for understanding funding avenues to help make the growth become a reality along with “his vision and foresight.”
 
As for Justice, who is in his final days of governor before taking a seat in the United States Senate, he echoed much of what Ford said regarding it being an economic driver.
 
“You’re attracting events, events, events, and more events,” said Justice. “Now, what you want to do is start soccer fields, lacrosse fields or whatever they may be and grow even more … These complexes absolutely drive economic growth in our communities like you can’t imagine. Plus, they drive health, longevity, and great stuff for our kids.”
 
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Gov. Jim Justice arriving with Babydog and an escort from Mayor Andy Lang. Next two photos shows City Manager Pat Ford and Lang, respectively, address the gathering. Bottom photo shows Babydog not nearly as excited as the grant recipients this afternoon. Bottom photo shows Justice with the check and the city staff and elected officials in attendance. That is followed by the conceptual plan for the new facility.
 

Share


Sign up/stay connected

Create your profile to start adding photos, posting comments, and more.

SIGN UP

Ad
Ad
Ad

Blogs [ view all ]

  • Photo

    Time Travel: Braves Cheerleaders from 19...

    You know this young ladies? This is from the 1987-88 school year and back in the Bridgeport Junior High Days. She...

    Posted by Dick Duez

  • Photo

    It's Happening: Direct Flight from Bridg...

      If you haven’t taken advantage of the direct flights from North Central West Virginia Airpor...

    Posted by Julie Perine

  • Photo

    Outside the Tribe: A Look Back at Some o...

    This weekend the high school sports season will wrap up this weekend with the state baseball tournament in Charleston....

    Posted by Chris Johnson

  • Photo

    Crisis Chronicles: It Takes a Village

    Around 5 p.m. on Friday, May 30th, my phone started buzzing with weather alerts. This spring has been particularly int...

    Posted by Tim Curry

  • Photo

    The Grapevine: PWA Stepping Up to Provid...

    The Progressive Women’s Association has taken a step further in expanding its services through its food bank. Th assoc...

    Posted by Rosalyn Queen

  • Photo

    ToquiNotes: Saying Goodbye to a Gift fro...

    In the famous Peanuts comic strip featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy, there is a character Linus that most of my generatio...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Love and Light: Sweet Honeysuckle

    One of the simple pleasures of living in Bridgeport, West Virginia is tasting the little drop of nectar inside the rip...

    Posted by Leigha Randolph

Calendar [ view all ]

Tue
24

Reading to Dogs (Bridgeport Public Library)

Thu
26

Family Game Night

Fri
27

Magic the Gathering (Bridgeport Public Library)

 



Bridgeport, WV
Editorial Board Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS

©2014 Connect Bridgeport.