NEWBURYPORT — What was once a dull, gray and cracked Atwood Park basketball court has been transformed into a new, smooth and vibrant green surface for local hoopers to enjoy.
The basketball court has been closed since Aug. 11, when work began to patch and resurface the court, as well as paint new lines and install a new hoop. The work is being done by Beverly-based SportsTek and is being funded with $27,000 in Community Preservation Act money approved by the City Council this spring.
The Community Preservation Act matches state funding with a local 2% property tax surcharge. The money must be used for housing, recreation, open space or historic preservation projects.
“It looks great. I’m excited to see that come together and be bustling with new basketball players in no time,” Ward 1 City Councilor Sharif Zeid said.
Though the court was still taped off as of Wednesday it is clear at a glance how close the work is to being complete. The playing surface features fresh new white lines marking boundaries, a deep green marking the paint, and the rest of the court painted a lighter green.
At a glance the installation of a new hoop appears to be the only element still missing.
With the park, located at 13 Atwood St., nestled within his ward, Zeid said he was unsure when it would reopen but shared his belief it will be soon.
“I can’t imagine it’ll be too much longer based on what I saw,” Zeid said.
Mayor Sean Reardon said he was happy with how the court was coming along.
“That court needed some love and it looks amazing,” Reardon said.
He said it is just one of a few recreation projects the city is working on, with four new hoops recently going up at the Nock Middle School.
“We will also be putting a two-lane track around the courts for running. Trying to finish these projects up for kids are back to school,” Reardon said.
Reardon said it has been a priority of his administration to use CPA funds to tackle these park improvements the last three plus years.
“Just these last few months we have seen the Nock Tennis Courts, Atwood Park and now the Nock Hot Top get some much needed attention,” Reardon said.
Parsons Street resident Joe Holaday said he has been playing on the Atwood Park court since 1979 when he first came to the city with his wife, former Mayor Donna Holaday.
“I’ve been playing basketball most of my adult life,” Joe Holaday said.
He said that he recently was riding his bike past Atwood Park when the changes caught his eye.
“I noticed, just off the bike, that they had put a new surface down, which was heartening to me. That’s a fun little court to go play at,” Joe Holaday said.
With the court only a couple blocks from his house, he said he hopes that more kids will use it once it reopens.
“I’m really happy that the city has taken the time to rehab that court. It’s wonderful,” Joe Holaday said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.