Basketball courts will get $117K upgrade

BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer

HOLMDEL- The basketball courts at Phillips andAllocco parks will get a face-lift this season.

Rehabilitation on the two courts will commence in four to six weeks, said Township Engineer Ed Broberg at the April 17 meeting. Committee members estimated that the courts could be back in full use by mid-July.

Rehabilitation efforts include general repairs, resurfacing, color coating and striping.

The courts at Allocco Park will have repaired sidewalks, addressing the overgrown tree roots that are cracking the concrete, Broberg said. The courts will also debut bleacher platforms that will be accessible to people with disabilities.

“The work must be completed in the warm weather in order for the surfacing materials to dry,” Broberg said. “The material takes about 20 to 40 days to dry, but basketball can still be played after the initial drying.”

Broberg explained that after the initial asphalt and surface coats dry, light games of basketball could be played while the drying process completes itself.

Broberg said that the surface would be playable but that the striping of the lines would have to be done later.

The contractor for the basketball rehabilitation project is Halecon Inc. of Bridgewater.

“The contractor is a specialist in tennis and basketball courts,” Broberg said. “And we are getting a reasonable price for all this work.”

According to Broberg, the rehabilitation of the basketball courts will cost approximately $117,800.

“This money was part of the 2007 capital budget allocation for the Parks and Recreation Department’s improvements,” said Debbie Voorhees, director of parks and recreation. “Some other aspects of the 2007 capital budget allocation include renovations at the senior community center.”

Work done at the senior community center includes expanding the audio system, installing speakers throughout themeeting room and expanding the fire suppression system that had previously been limited to themechanical room, where it had been required when it was built.

Voorhees also said that new tables and chairs have been purchased for the center, accommodating the increasing demand to use the facility formore formal events than meetings.