Plans are in the works to add a full-court basketball court to Kennedy Park with money from the $5 million parks bond.
The Board of Public Works will open bids for the project today, with work to begin in the coming weeks.
The new court will replace a pair of hoops in the parking lot between the animal shelter and splash pad.
It will be located north of the splash pad.
“It’s the first step in some other upgrades we’re going to try to do to the park through some of the resources we have through the parks bond,” Parks Director Phil St. Clair said of the new court Monday.
Other possible improvements include a new shelter, new benches and new playground equipment, St. Clair said.
“We’re just trying to do some things to encourage kids come out to the park and utilize it,” he said.
The Common Council in January approved a $5.58 million parks bond by a vote of 7-1, with member Henry Davis Jr., D-District 2, opposed.
Proceeds from the bond are intended to finance various maintenance projects and equipment and facilities upgrades, including a new ice rink at Howard Park and a second gymnasium at the Charles Black Recreation Center.
“We’re also looking at the possibility of putting in some new splash pads as well, perhaps at Walker Field and Fremont Park,” St. Clair said.
The new basketball court is expected to be ready for use by the end of the year.
“It’s our hope that we will get that in before the snow flies,” St. Clair said. “We’re hoping the end of October or November.”
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