The City of Bridgeport will soon be adding to its recreational inventory with a new park. And the really good news is that the construction of this park won’t cost the city a dime.

 

Thanks to an effort between the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the owners of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, the White Oaks development will soon be home to a brand new “pocket park.” The park will be located beside the Holiday Inn and along South View Drive.

 

The Bridgeport CVB was the funding source for the project. According to CVB Board President Drew Pomeroy, $70,000 in funding was provided for the project. Pomeroy, CVB Executive Director Michelle Duez and others involved with that agency think it’s a perfect fit for what the CVB tries to provide for visitors to the city.

 

“Primarily, it provides an amenity for our hotel visitors, almost all of whom are from not only outside the city, but out of state and even out of the country,” said Duez. “It will also provide a place for those who are in the area due to a loved one having a prolonged stay or even a procedure at United Hospital Center, which serves multiple counties. It also will be a nice amenity for those who work at White Oaks.”

 

The park, which is being designed by the architectural division of the Thrasher Group, will include a playground area as well as a basketball court. The area will have several benches and picnic tables, including a pair of octagonal picnic tables. Once the work begins on the project, the Thrasher group will also provide construction management.

 

“It will be centrally located amongst the hotels that will be operating there,” said Duez.

 

Work was continuing – and may have concluded – this week on transferring of the land from the Holiday Inn Express to the City of Bridgeport. Although the city won’t pay for the project, they will assume the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep as it will become part of the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation system.

 

Right now, the Holiday Inn Express is the only hotel open at White Oaks. Two more are set to open shortly in the Comfort Suites and the Courtyard by Marriott, while developer Woody Thrasher has said another hotel is also ready to ink a deal. That means thousands of visitors will be able to utilize the park who are visiting the city and Holiday Inn Express General Manager Shari Ebaugh is thrilled that it will soon be available.

 

“It’s absolutely going to help with the leisure guests on the weekends and even throughout the week. You have people taking long trips, particularly to the beach during this period of time, and Bridgeport is a stopping point,” said Ebaugh. “Having a park for people to relax and children to unwind after a long day of travel is a good thing.

 

“Right now, our only recreational option is the swimming pool and this park will really let everyone burn off some steam after traveling,” she continued. “It’s going to be nice to let those staying here know they can play basketball in the park, go to the playground and have a meal outside. There’s nothing better than getting a little bit of time in the West Virginia sunshine.”

 

Like others involved, Ebaugh said it will also benefit the White Oaks community and other developments in the area. She said it will be a benefit for those traveling and those doing business and beyond. And she’s not alone.

 

“You hear the phrase win-win, but this is really just that,” said Duez. “This helps out our visitors and provides a community resource as well, while allowing the CVB to become in a project that directly impacts visitors to our city.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is a schematical drawing of the park from the Thrasher Group.