It’s barely been open for two weeks, but the newest amenity to the Bridgeport Recreation Complex is already seeing significant use. A $60,000 project that added a new playground and picnic shelter at the facility was recently completed and according to a Parks and Recreation official appears to be a hit.

 

“We’ve had a few tournaments since it’s been installed and it’s already a hit,” said P&R Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth of the playground designed by Cunningham Recreation out of Charlotte, NC.

 

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.

 

“There was one hiccup with the project and that was the punched metal roof,” said Shuttleworth. “There was an issue with it having something formed incorrectly from the factory, but that was fixed and the contractor came back to properly install it. Since then, it’s been completely operational.”

 

The playground was added to help provide a much-needed addition at the complex for families that travel to Bridgeport for the tournament. P&R Director Don Burton has said it in the past it was being built to provide an outlet for children who travel with their brothers or sisters to the events. Shuttleworth said that’s certainly been the case in the early going.

 

“You can see that it’s providing a much-needed energy outlet for the siblings of those that are playing,” said Shuttleworth. “We’ve already received a lot of really positive comments from people that have taken advantage of it.”

 

Along with the playground being completed, Shuttleworth said his department worked with the Bridgeport Public Works construction crew to install a small picnic shelter adjacent to the playground. He said that in the weeks ahead picnic tables and even a grill will be added to that facility.

 

“We think it will be nice for teams that are visiting to have that shelter as an option to go out there and eat and have their lunch,” said Shuttleworth.

 

The project was funded by a $30,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was awarded after Shuttleworth successfully submitted a grant application. There was 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 was used for the project, which added to the cost.

 

Of the final total, $52,000 will cover the costs for the playground. The remaining $8,000 was used for the cost of the picnic shelter/pavilion. The cost for tables, grills or other amenities that will be added will come from end-of-the-year funding, Shuttleworth said. 

 

Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of Michelle Duez.