THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608270148
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 64 lines
``Let the games begin!''
That was the cry heard at Northside Park at the conclusion of a dedication ceremony for the park's two new basketball courts, built for the city by the Seabees of Navy Construction Battalion Unit 411.
A team of youngsters wasted no time rushing onto the playing field, breaking through a ribbon to officially open the courts and then getting down to the serious business of shooting some hoops.
Before one could say ``slam dunk,'' a game was under way between the youngsters and the Seabees.
The project marks the continuation of a long-term partnership between the city and the Seabees.
``It started with Imagination Island (the children's playground at Northside Park),'' explained Chief Petty Officer Brent Hobbs, operations chief for CBU-411. ``After we built it, the city's parks and recreation department asked us to relocate the basketball courts. They wanted to separate the bigger children from the smaller ones.''
The project took about three months to schedule and five months to complete, Hobbs said.
``We had a lot of trouble with the weather,'' added Petty Officer Charles Meriam, CBU-411's operations supervisor. ``All the rain we've had ... the crew working on the project varied from four to 12. When we laid the asphalt, we had 12 out here.''
The Seabees had to demolish the old courts, next to the play area, and prepare the site for the new ones. The area had to be dug up. ``Crush and run'' was laid down, followed by asphalt. The entire project required 94 man-days. The city provided the materials, and the Seabees furnished the labor.
``It was a civic project,'' Hobbs said, ``but we used it for training. We had a couple of people in the unit who had never laid asphalt.''
Meriam estimated the value of the labor at about $30,000.
``This year, we've performed approximately 800 man-days of community service,'' said Lt. Rick Rodriguez, officer in charge of CBU-411.
There are 38 personnel in CBU-411. In addition to Imagination Island and the basketball courts in Northside Park, Rodriguez said they have volunteered their time to make improvements to Chesapeake City Park.
Rebecca Sherron, of Norfolk's Bureau of Recreation, estimated the Seabees have saved the city approximately $50,000. She credited Rear Adm. Robert S. Cole, Commander Naval Base Norfolk, and Capt. John Petrie, Commanding Officer Naval Station Norfolk, with making the partnership possible.
Petrie was one of two speakers at the ceremony, where he was presented with a plaque by master of ceremonies Stanley Stein, Norfolk's director of Parks, Recreation and General Services.
``We're not only at Norfolk, but with Norfolk,'' Petrie said in brief remarks affirming the partnership between the city and the Navy.
Councilman Randy Wright also spoke at the ceremony, citing his familiarity with the park because of frequent visits to Imagination Island with his young grandson.
The youngsters who rushed onto the courts seemed unaware of the logistics of moving basketball courts around and not mindful of the considerations that went into the decision, but they knew a good thing when they saw it.
``I think it's cool they made a court here,'' said Jason Bowman, 13. ``I'll be here playing basketball every day.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DAWSON MILLS
Stanley Stein presents a plaque to speaker Capt. John Petrie. by CNB