After several years of disagreements that put work on hold at the tennis courts at Stephen R. Gregg County Park, reconstruction began last week as the county invests $720,000 into making the upgrades.
Set to begin work more than two years ago, the county dropped Bayonne from the original parks upgrade list until disputes over the possible removal of trees and other matters could be resolved.
Some of the residents using the courts had sought to have the orientation of the courts changed in order to stop direct sunlight from blinding players during early morning and late afternoon hours. This, however, raised objections from local historic preservationists, who said the move would remove trees that make up the historic park.
Under an agreement forged with the local groups, the county will not change the court’s footprint or change the view of the historic tree corridor.
In an announcement made in late March, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise said the project would completely demolish and replace the 10 existing courts.
The current courts are being replaced entirely, but in exactly the same number and configuration on their original site. This will ensure that the park’s exquisite view corridor remains undisturbed and that trees neighboring the court will be left untouched. They are expected to be completed by July 31, weather permitting.
“We’re proud to deliver a project that is not only a major improvement to the existing facility, but one that is 15 percent below the original estimated cost,” Tom DeGise said. “I want to thank Mayor Mark Smith and Freeholder Doreen DiDomenico for their input and cooperation, our County Parks Director Tom McCann and our County Engineer Bob Jasek for designing this project in-house to save taxpayer dollars in these very difficult economic times.”
“We received 10 bids for the project, and were able to award it for an amount a bit lower than our estimate,” DiDomenico said.
The courts were originally constructed nearly 80 years ago with a clay surface that was eventually covered over with asphalt. The asphalt was last re-surfaced in 1992. Today, the courts are cracked and nearly unplayable. Many posed tripping hazards for players.
In order to save money, the County Division of Parks worked with the County Engineer’s office to come up with the design, rather than contract with an outside engineering firm. The original internal cost estimate exceeded $840,000. By keeping the project design work in-house, the courts will be constructed for $118,000 less than originally budgeted.
The project was included in the County Parks Capital Budget in November. Requests for proposals were sent out in December, with bids received in mid-January.
The work
The work will start with the complete removal of current courts and digging up to two feet below the surface for the removal of roots, the installation of a new drainage system, root barriers, new curbing, and a new base for the court. Grading of the surface will meet U.S. Tennis Association standards, DiDomenico said.
The courts will also get a new green vinyl fence that will prevent tennis balls from passing through.
New windscreens, benches, roof shelters, water fountains and bleacher seating will also be installed.
The construction firm doing the work, D&S Land Development of Ramsay, N.J., has already removed the fence around the courts and will completely demolish and remove the old courts and then dig two feet down into the ground before laying new crushed stone aggregate as a base and a drainage layer.
These 10 new USTA-standard courts avoid any intrusion on the park’s view corridor.
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“We would love to do this work before outdoor tennis season,” McCann said. “But the color coat curing process requires the kind of weather you get only in late June and July. We hope folks will understand that if we do this right now, they’ll enjoy a court that will last longer and play far better.”
By following the original footprint, these 10 new USTA-standard courts avoid any intrusion on the park’s view corridor and will not compromise the historic stonewall near Kennedy Boulevard. This addresses key concerns raised last October by the Bayonne Historical Society when they met with county officials about the future of the courts.
“While we all regret the courts being offline this spring, the long term benefits of doing the work properly justifies the inconvenience now,” DiDomenico said. “This project will be well-built, under budget and incorporates the suggestions of our community. I am pleased all our hard work will make the new courts a great place to play for a very long time.”