Streamlined, but very informative, was the style of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation’s annual report to Bridgeport City Council. Director Don Burton and Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth provided a slide show Monday evening during the awards and presentation portion of the Council meeting. The report encompassed all aspects of the parks and recreation program.

 

Burton delivered the first portion of the report, starting with recent and current renovations to Benedum Civic Center. Upgrades to and remodeling of restroom facilities completed, crews are now working on the foyer of the city hub.

 

“They’ve been taking down old wallpaper and drywalled that section and painted it,” Burton said. “We’ll be getting bids here shortly on flooring and carpeting for the main office, as well as (Shuttleworth’s) office and my office.”

 

Past issues with the heating and cooling system have been addressed as both units were replaced in 2016, Burton said.

 

Burton continued with information on upgrades to “the cage” – the basketball courts adjacent to Bridgeport Pool.

 

“Those courts are highly used,” he said. “They’re probably 25 to 30 years old, so we purchased new goals this spring. There will be new, heavier duty basketball goals going up.”

 

With regard to Bridgeport City Park, a new storage shed was added, following the recent establishment of a concession stand. The storage is located behind the backstops, providing storage for ball teams which play at the facility. Burton also reported that CityNet has installed ultra high speed internet at the park, as well as security cameras which have already proven valuable.

 

“We believe one  case has been solved – a little fender bender which the cameras caught,” Burton said.

 

Ballfields at Bridgeport City Park were laser graded last year and fencing on both the Little League and girls’ softball fields were upgraded.

 

In the area of Compton Park, walking trails on James and Pearcy streets are being more heavily utilized, Burton said. Church and scout groups have been volunteering to place wood chips on those trails, keeping them maintained for walkers. Bridges along the trails have been updated.

 

Burton continued his report, referring to tennis courts located at Deegan Lake. Resurfacing has been completed and the next phase of the replacement project is under way.

 

“We’re still working through some issues and hopefully the contractor should be out there in April to start color coating and sealing asphalt,” he said. “The temperature has to be just right for that.”

 

Restrooms at Deegan Lake Park will also be remodeled; skylights being removed and roofs replaced. Also in the lake area, a water line has been installed by Bridgeport Public Works in order to establish a fountain at the city dog park and development has continued on the walking trail on the private side of the lake.

 

Bridgeport City Pool had nearly 2,000 less visits last summer than the previous year; 24,925 visits in 2015 versus 22,977 in 2016, Burton said. In addition to weather woes, an early start to the 2016-2017 school year was also detrimental to attendance, he said.

 

There were some pool upgrades within the past year.

 

“You saw new chairs added last year and we also extended the beach area beside the baby pool,” Burton said.

 

With regard to the downtown Main Street area, Burton said the Veterans Memorial was a welcome addition and is visited frequently. He also said parks and recreation crews work hard to keep seasonal décor – from Christmas decorations and banners to live flowers - fresh and inviting. Enhancing the Main Street corridor in the spring/summertime are 45 flower pots, 12 bridge planters and two additional large planters.

 

“We do get lots of compliments about our Main Street flowers between the bridges and the lamp posts,” Burton said. “People from out of state even send us emails telling us how nice Main Street, Bridgeport looks.”

 

Eight light poles were added to the east side of Main Street, in the vicinity of Shop n’ Save. Additional lightpoles and decorations have also been established at Meadowbrook Mall.

 

Shuttleworth delivered the second portion of the report, starting with Bridgeport Recreation Complex.

 

“We did  a lot of work in the spring, finishing up the new batting cages between fields one and four,” he said. “We also finished the warning track project in the fall, red brick surrounding and placed behind home plate and the dugouts.”

 

A red and black theme continues to be implemented at the facility.

 

Shuttleworth said separate entrance and exits have been established; that project a collaboration with Bridgeport Public Works.

 

“We can send buses out by private road onto Route 131, keeping traffic flowing when we host bigger events,” he said.

 

Ballfield draining issues were addressed In the fall of 2016, complimenting laser grading completed a few years back, Shuttleworth said. In addition to irrigation issues, fencing has been upgraded too.

 

“We have a great maintenance program up there,” he said. “With the sun already warming things up, we’ve mowed twice already.

 

Bridgeport Recreation Complex is utilized in a big way.

 

“We hosted home Fairmont State baseball games,” said Shuttleworth said, adding that the first game of the 2017 season is at the end of March.

 

The Rec Complex was home of 13 separate weekend tournaments in 2016, packing city hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, thereby providing positive economic impact.

 

“We have a program set up with the (Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau) and Meadowbrook Mall, giving out gift cards to shop at mall stores,” Shuttleworth said.

 

Regional high school cross country events and MEC championships, 5K and community events were also held at the rec complex facility.

 

Last but not least, Shuttleworth concluded with a long list of classes and programs hosted or co-hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department.

 

“We’re still trying to do a good job having a program that benefits the community with educational and recreational classes and events,” he said.

 

Classes offered at Benedum Civic Center include, but aren’t limited to, ballroom dancing, karate, stamping, Re-Fit fitness, Let’s Paint, Little Explorers science club and cooking. At the pool, swim lessons, aqua zumba and junior lifeguarding are offered and the city’s swim team – the Wildcatters – practice and/or compete  daily.

 

The city also hosts a program through the United States Tennis Association, for which a grant was obtained in 2016 enabling the department to purchase equipment for the program’s youngest players.

 

Bridgeport Parks and Recreation also hosts an annual Easter Egg Hunt, Kids/Family Day, Movies in the Park/Pool, Hunters Safety courses, National Night Out, Hay Bales and Tall Tales, Light Up Night, Christmas Parade and Arts Council concerts/events.

 

Athletic leagues, such as Children’s Basketball and Fast Break leagues and youth wrestling are also programs of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation. Nearly 100 middle school and high school students – from throughout Harrison County and neighboring counties - participated in the 2016 Fast Break season. 

 

Read other Bridgeport City Council coverage HERE.