Legitimately, it’s a few shovels of dirt being turned. But it symbolizes the virtual moving of mountains. After four years in discussion and two years in the planning process, ground is about to be broken for Bridgeport’s indoor sports complex which will be located close to the existing recreation complex and baseball fields in Charles Pointe. 

 

Involving representatives of architectural firm, Omni & Associates, city officials and staff members, the ceremony is set for 4 p.m. Thursday.  

 

It’s an important day for the city and marks the official start of a major project that is important to folks of all ages and their way of life, said Mayor Andy Lang.

 

 “In the climate we live in, there are three, four or five months a year with nice weather and only 90 days – from Memorial through Labor Day – that our pool is open,” he said. “This is a chance to have year-round recreation and the quality of life people want.” 

 

Among amenities of the complex is a multi-lane walking/running track, a 200-by-200 indoor turf area divided into four fields, basketball courts and competition pool. There will also be a common area component – containing administration, fitness, concessions, security, etc. Projected outdoor amenities include an amphitheater area and walking trail connecting the new complex to the existing outdoor complex. 

 

Earlier this month, Council awarded the contract for the earthwork to Green River Group LLC in the amount of $3,593,765. Grading is expected to start shortly after the groundbreaking.  

 

The building contract is expected to be awarded in early 2019 with a goal to open the facility in the summer of 2020. Both the existing recreation complex and the new indoor sports complex are located on 125 acres of city-owned land in Charles Pointe. 

Lang talked about various steps which have taken place over recent years; steps important in the implementation of a project of this size and scope. It was in early 2015 that a survey was utilized to determine what amenities city residents would like to see included in the facility. A series of in-person meetings were held for the same purpose. Shortly thereafter came the ground work to implement a one percent sales tax, monies collected which would serve to fund the project in part. That step has been vital, said Lang, who explained how overall funding revolves around the sales tax. 

 

“You can’t go out and sell bonds to fund something until a track record is established of what the sales revenue would be,” he said. “All money collected (through the one percent sales tax) will be spent on the project. We have six quarters under our belt and in July we’ll have another quarter. With seven, we start getting a track record to be shared with the bond company.”

 

In recent months, City Council has met on a regular basis with Omni & Associates, fine tuning just what amenities the facility will include. 

 

“Basically, we’ve determined the square footage we want and we’re starting to get closer to a final design,” Lang said. “Once that’s done, their folks will start doing estimated pricing and getting a feel of what will fit into the budget. We have a general footprint; now we’re starting to drill down to details.”

 

It is a sizeable investment by the City of Bridgeport, but it is one which Lang believes will pay off big. He looks forward to holding a grand opening for the facility once it is completed and even more to opening its doors and seeing those from throughout the area utilize it on a regular basis.