When growth takes place, it’s important that the infrastructure keeps up. Such is the case with the Bridgeport Recreation Complex where hundreds of events featuring thousands of individuals have already taken place in its early existence.

 

While the usage is exactly what was envisioned by Bridgeport Parks and Recreation and by City Council when making the decision to move forward with the project, with growth comes additional needs. Right now, the city is meeting one of those needs.

 

Recently, a much-needed prefabricated metal storage building was brought to the site and installation of the new facility is being put in place. The new 30x36 building purchased from Carolina Carports at a cost of $7,730 will help address a critical need.

 

“The building was desperately needed because we’ve lacked needed storage space. We’ve got expensive equipment that we simply don’t have enough room to put into our existing garage that’s on site,” said P&R Director Don Burton. “The cost of the building should easily be offset by extending the life of the equipment.”

 

Burton said some of the equipment – such as tractors and turf equipment – have to be covered outside in the elements, which is particular tough in the winter. The building will house those items as well as have room for pallets of fertilizer, field dry, seed and other materials used at the complex.

 

The good news is that Burton said he can foresee the potential for additional storage buildings in the future. Of course, that will only happen if growth continues at the complex and thanks to the economic benefit of it being utilized, that’s what most hope for.

 

“Anytime you grow a facility like this and offer more activities, such as we’ll be doing with the all-purpose field, the additional care requirements usually need to additional equipment requirements,” said Burton. “If the additional 27 acres that are available up here are put into use for even more recreational purposes I can actually see the need for a brick and mortar storage facility. That may be a ways off, but you have to at least look at the possibility so you don’t run into problems.”