While it’s technically an upgrade of an existing recreational facility, it’s actually a complete replacement of one. And by the end of the summer, a six-figure project to redo the Hinkle & Deegan Lakes Tennis Courts should be well under way.

 

According to Bridgeport Finance Director Monica Musgrave, Bridgeport City Council recently signed off on a budget revision that will provide $160,000 for a “resurfacing” project at the four courts located at the lakes. The money is excess hotel/motel tax funds the city received and those dollars have to be used on recreational upgrades, or projects that increase and promote tourism as required by law.

 

“This is a project that has been much needed as we’ve had issues for some time primarily due to issues relating to the courts being built around water. While that’s not necessarily the best idea, the problem became compounded over the years because of drainage issues,” said Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth. “The courts have probably been out there since the 1970s or 1980s, but the issues have been around for the last several years.”

 

The issues led to the heaving of the asphalt on the courts. Along with some issues with the freeze and thaw cycles, the biggest issues stem from poor drainage and water moving underneath the asphalt surface. The result was dead spots on the surface as well as uneven patches that made it difficult for those wanting to play tennis to do so at a competitive level.

 

“The bottom line is that the courts are in bad shape,” said Shuttleworth.

 

While this project is a substantial one, the city has tried to address the problem in the past. Shuttleworth said the initial work to make the courts more user friendly began 15 years ago as city staff tried to level out the surface, fill in cracks and purchased a matting surface to cover the entire four-court area.

 

“The matting surface is an elevated surface, but it also has problems. The surface below the matting has continued to deteriorate and because of that the matting doesn’t have contact with the area beneath it in several areas,” said Shuttleworth. “What you get are dead spots and that’s not conducive to those playing tennis; you even have grass growing up in some areas of the court. Your more serious tennis players simply hate a situation like that.”

 

While the public has had to deal with the courts in less than stellar shape for years, one group no longer uses the courts. For years, Bridgeport High School’s tennis teams used the courts. However, they are in poor enough condition that for several years now the Indians play their matches at the Bridgeport Country Club courts.

 

“This project has been on our radar for a while, but the problem was that fixing it required a substantial amount of dollars,” said Shuttleworth. “To be honest, it’s not even a fix. It’s a total transformation. What you’ll see when this is finished are new courts, new lines and new drainage and we believe a new and better tennis experience.”

 

The project still has to go through the competitive bidding and review process. Once that’s done, the contractor will have to meet with city officials before starting. Shuttleworth said work could begin by late summer.

 

Connect-Bridgeport will post information once the project is scheduled to begin.

 

Editor's Note: Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth shows the area where matting was put down several years ago around the lakes tennis courts, while the bottom photo shows some of the dead spots that have grass growing through them.