Mattituck School District Seeks Funding For Basketball Court Repairs

MATTITUCK, NY — The Mattituck-Cutchogue School District is reaching out to the community for help in funding the restoration of the community basketball courts on the school district’s Aldrich Lane property in Laurel, district officials said.

In 1999, community partners joined together to build the outdoor basketball courts on the property; the courts were completed and dedicated on June 30, 2001, the district said. For more than two decades, the courts have been used for fundraisers, individual leisure activities and team games.

"They are now in desperate need of repair," the district said.

The Mattituck-Cutchogue School District has maintained the courts during the years to ensure they are a safe and enjoyable place for the community to play basketball.

But now, officials said, it is 22 years later, and the courts are deteriorating. They need to be completely resurfaced and painted, and all the backboards and hoops need replacement. If the repairs and renovations are not addressed in the immediate future, the courts may become unsafe to play on and will become an eyesore, the district added.

The district has secured estimates on the work required to restore the basketball courts — it will cost a little more than $58,000 to professionally restore the courts to their original condition, "and once again make them a place where community members and organizations are proud to gather and shoot some hoops," the district said.

District officials added: "The Mattituck-Cutchogue School District is reaching out to communitypartners past and present to come together to fund the work and turn the project into a reality."

Any individual or organization willing to help should contact Tina Smith in the district's business office at tsmith@mufsd.com or call 631-298-4242 ext. 3501. If you have questions or thoughts on the project, contact Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti at spetretti@mufsd.com or call 631-298-4242 ext. 3100.