For anyone that’s been past the new Johnson Elementary School construction site and looked at what was once the parking lot for Wayne Jamison Field and the current JES, they can see plenty of activity. And they can also see literally tons of dirt.

 

What some may find hard to see, or believe, is that Harrison County Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin said everything will be done possible to have the parking lot, or at least a sizable portion of it, open for the start of the 2017 soccer and football seasons.

 

“I’ve been talking to the project construction manager about parking and have met with (Bridgeport High School Principal) Mark DeFazio and (Assistant Principal) Matt DeMotto about it as well. Slowly and surely, we’ll move the debris and materials to a tighter construction site area,” said Manchin. “We anticipate that some of the parking will be available for fall sports and hope that we can accelerate that to happen.”

 

Right now, that may seem unlikely – as mentioned – just by looking at the site. Yet underneath the equipment, material and other objects relating to the JES project, is the base of the parking lot. Near the start of work, the old parking lot was milled as part of the work that led to the way of the installation and upgrading of infrastructure.

 

So does DeFazio think it will be ready for the first home soccer games and the first home football games?

 

“There’s a meeting (today) at 10 a.m. and there are a few questions that I’m hoping that (Board of Education officials) can answer because it concerns funds we raise through our athletic boosters,” said DeFazio.

 

Typically, the high school is already selling parking passes for the 2017 football season, as well as combining it with season passes. That, however, has been put on hold because DeFazio doesn’t know if there will be parking and – if there is – doesn’t know how much parking is available.

 

“Hopefully we can get an answer if not (today), then soon and if we have to start selling passes in August that’s okay. I just need to have an idea when it’s likely to be available and approximately how many spaces,” said DeFazio.

 

DeFazio said concerns are for all the fall sports for parking. However, he added that football already uses most of the side parking facilities all the way to the high school and sometimes even Bridgeport Middle School.

 

“For games you have to have places to park nearby for coaches, players, administrators, volunteers, police, media, officials and a number of others,” said DeFazio. “We think if parking isn’t available for the first week of football season in the main lot then we may at least be able to help out those individuals.”

 

DeFazio said he is in discussion with the City of Bridgeport for early sporting home games to be able to use Bridgeport City Park’s limited parking spaces to assist there and possibly even for those with parking passes.

 

“We have to figure it out, but it’s all doable. The most important group for me to worry about is those that require handicap parking access,” said DeFazio. “I can assure you, and I’m sure the school board would say the same thing, that we’ll make sure anyone with a handicap pass will have as convenient a place to park as possible.”

 

DeFazio said if parking isn’t directly available by the field for those with disabilities, there’s already a solution being discussed. He said a golf cart would be rented for games and used to transport individuals to and from events before, during and after them as needed.

 

DeFazio said while he would like some answers and assurances, he’s also not going to sweat the situation. He said everyone went into this project knowing that everyone – including those that will soon be driving children to school – would face some inconveniences.

 

“We understood from day one that there would be some hassles. When the school is finished it will be worth it,” said DeFazio. “The reality is that if we have to suck it up for one year and everyone else does as well, then that’s what we’ll do and we’ll still make it work. Athletically, we’re letting our soccer and football fans know that they’re going to have to be patient with the situation.”

 

DeFazio said due to the nature of construction and the size of the project involves, there will be many situations that are fluid and that will come up unexpectedly. When that happens, he said, those involved will try to get the word out to the community of what’s taking place and what they need to do.

 

“We’ll do the best we can and we’ve already discussed getting word out via Connect-Bridgeport and other media outlets for instructions on what needs to happen each week, or even each day, if needed,” said DeFazio. “Right now, we’re in a holding pattern and I’m find with it because I know I’ll eventually get the answers I need even if it’s not the answer I want.”

 

Editor's Note: Top two photos show construction photos showing the dirt, equipment and materials in place where the parking lot was located. Next to last photo is of Mark DeFazio, while Dr. Mark Manchin is pictured below.