While baseball action is already in full swing at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex for 2015, construction action will also begin in the weeks ahead as a $60,000 project is about to get started. And the good news is that it shouldn’t interfere at all with the baseball and other activities taking place.

 

This past Monday, Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton and Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth disclosed to the public during a Bridgeport City Council meeting the design has been chosen for a new playground facility at the complex. A panel of city staff, P&R workers, elected officials and even youth league players chose the winning design for the new playground.

 

The winning design for what will be a “turnkey” project was submitted by Cunningham Recreation out of Charlotte, NC. Unlike most projects, those bidding were given a total that would be spent and asked to submit various designs. Although the submissions were unique, the Parks and Recreation staff did have various requirements from color schemes to items they would like to see included in the design. From there, the aforementioned committee chose the winning design.

 

“I was happy with the different type of playground designs we received, but I was surprised the committee picked the one they did because it’s more of a traditional playground as opposed to having a lot of unique baseball type features. I thought they might go with something less traditional, but at the same time the one that was picked is an excellent choice,” said Burton. “I think those utilizing the facility will enjoy the finished product.”

 

Even though it’s not exactly what Burton envisioned, it’s also not exactly a standard piece of playground equipment. Burton and Shuttleworth both said there are several unique features that will tie in nicely with the overall look at the Recreation Complex.

 

“This is the one everyone went to, particularly the kids,” said Shuttleworth. “In the end, they felt it had the most to offer. It's still pretty much one of a kind.”

 

The new playground has two slides and a rock climbing wall. There are also several other climbing features, connecting tunnels, baseball-themed play panels among others. One portion of the playground is elevated and the roof of the elevation is punched metal with baseball designs.

 

“The cuts from the metal are baseball scenes and when the sunlight comes though those holes that are punched, you can see the outlines of various baseball players,” said Shuttleworth. “That’s certainly one very unique feature with this choice.”

 

The city had $60,000 for the entire project that will soon begin. As part of the bid project, which includes installation, the group designing the playground had $52,000 to work with in the design.

 

The project will be funded by a $30,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. There is also a $30,000 grant match from the city. The Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program is under the National Park Services and the grant is administered by the Community Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office. Because of that, prevailing wage has to be used for the project, which adds to the cost.

 

With $60,000 available and $52,000 set aside for the playground, one may wonder about the remaining $8,000. That money is also part of the project, but is part of the project that will be done by Parks and Recreation staff.

 

“We’ll have a picnic pavilion back in the same area of the playground,” said Shuttleworth.

 

Burton said the Charlotte company has ordered the equipment. It will take several weeks for that to arrive, but he still anticipates the work to be done well before the 2015 season of activity to be finished at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.

 

“This adds something to the complex for those families that come out of town with other youngsters that might not be playing,” said Burton. “If you have a child competing all day and you have other children, this will not only give them a place to play, but with the shelter that is going up families can eat there and enjoy some time in the shade. We think this will be an excellent addition to the complex.”

 

For years, the city has successfully applied for grants through the Land and Water Conservation program. Funds from the program have been used for the construction of the Bridgeport swimming pool, the tennis courts, the boat docks and Hinkle and Deegan Lakes, the construction of Compton Park and the Sprayground. It’s also been utilized at the Recreation Complex where funds have been utilized for the basketball court and picnic area beyond the multi-purpose field.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Joe Shuttleworth during Monday's City Council meeting, while the rendering for the playground is shown in the middle and a detailed look at the punched metal roof detail is shown at the bottom.