Bridgewater Awards Contract For Basketball Court Upgrade Where Ex-NBA Star Trained

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Bridgewater Township Council has awarded a contract for basketball court improvements at Philip and David Miller Park, a project that drew personal thanks from former NBA player Eric Murdock at a recent council meeting.

"I owe everything to that park — one of the main reasons why I made it to the NBA is that park," Murdock, a Bridgewater resident and former NBA guard, told the Township Council at a recent meeting.

The council adopted a resolution on July 9 awarding a contract to Pave-Rite, Inc. of Bridgewater for basketball court improvements at the park, in an amount not to exceed $133,505.50. The company submitted the lowest of two bids received when sealed proposals were opened on June 11, coming in well under a competing bid of $259,450 from Senco Metals LLC.

Murdock, who grew up in the township's Hobstown section, said he trained at the park every day after school as a child, crediting it — along with the grandmother who raised him — with shaping his path to professional basketball.

"After school, I would go down to the park every day, every day until the lights came on, and honed in on my skills, honed in on how to be a great teammate, work ethic, integrity — everything that you know makes you a man," Murdock said.

The park is named for Murdock's late uncles, Dave and Philip Miller. Murdock said the site had fallen into disrepair and no longer reflected what the two men stood for as community leaders.

"Right now, that park does not represent what they stood for, as leaders in that community," Murdock said.

Murdock thanked Mayor Matthew C. Moench for following through on a commitment to fund the renovation.

"He is a man of his word, and this was maybe a year, maybe two years ago, and he said we're going to get it done," Murdock said. "And right now, looks like we're going to get this basketball court done."

According to the resolution, funding for the project will come from the township's 2026 municipal budget, including a Local Recreation Grant account and the Open Space Trust fund for park improvements. Acting Chief Finance Officer Sarah L. Housman certified the availability of funds.

Murdock closed his remarks by thanking the council for its work on behalf of the community.

"I came here to just thank you guys for making Bridgewater Township one of the best places to live in New Jersey, and I really appreciate that," Murdock said.

Murdock also runs an annual backpack giveaway for children, scheduled this year for Aug. 22.

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