Refurbished Basketball Courts Reopen In West Haven

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Contributed): West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi was joined by city recreation program coordinator Tom Conroy, city sidewalk inspector Ernie Chiarelli and Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman David Coyle for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to mark the grand reopening of the newly refurbished basketball courts in Veterans Memorial Park on Bull Hill Lane.

Joining them were state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven; city Treasurer Michael P. Last; City Council members Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1, Mitchell L. Gallignano, D-4, Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5, Peter V. Massaro, D-6, Treneé McGee, D-7, Robert Bruneau, D-9, Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, and Gary Donovan, D-at large; Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy; Park-Rec Director Mark E. Paine Jr. and program coordinator Diane Dietman; and representatives from Hinding Tennis Courts of West Haven.

The two all-weather courts, part of the former federal Nike site property, received a new asphalt surface painted in blue and white, the city’s official colors, bordered by a lighter shade of blue. New LED lighting, benches and fencing were also installed, and the existing fencing was upgraded to a vinyl-coated chain-link material, Paine said.

The $49,500 project, overseen by Conroy and Chiarelli, was done by Spring Street-based Hinding Tennis and paid for by a state Local Capital Improvement Program grant.

“We are a community of homes and families, and our parks and open spaces are vital resources,” Paine said. “We really appreciate the support of Mayor Rossi, the City Council and the Department of Public Works with this project. I especially appreciate Tom Conroy’s tireless advocacy for and work on the rehabilitation.”

Rossi added: “Thank you to Ernie Chiarelli, Tom Conroy, Tom McCarthy and the Department of Parks and Recreation for their supervision of this project. Also, a special thanks to the team at Hinding Tennis for their outstanding work in beautifying this area.”