Aliceville Aiming for Hoops at City Park

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

After improvements this season at the Aliceville City Park, the city council is looking to go a bit further. At the previous council meeting on April 25, Councilman Thomas Wilkins mentioned he had been approached about getting a basketball goal and court at the park. Thinking it would be a good addition, research and steps have commenced to see if that request can be made into reality.

Councilman Terrence Windham said at the May 9 meeting of the City Council he had looked into it (the basketball court) and had come up with some prices. “Basically,” Windham said, “the price on what it’s going to cost. The total project is going to be right at, for one basketball court, $10,000 to $13,000.”

“I know everybody’s eyes bugged just then, just running the cost of it,” Windham quipped.

For a good basketball goal, specifically, according to Windham, a gooseneck lifetime goal that resists graffiti and rough play inevitable with an outdoor goal, can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,000. “The two cheapest ones I saw were about $955 for that particular one and the other was about $1,500,” he said.

Windham told the council a concrete surface, which would be the least expensive route for the court itself, would cost about $8,000 for a 60-inch by 93-inch slab at four-inches thick. “I’m not finished looking at quotes, but that’s approximately what it’s going to look like,” he said.

“I think this is the price we need to bite the bullet on and go with it,” Windham said. “I’d like for it to be a nice area so I’m going to continue to do something about it.”

Windham wants to use a tennis court-style softer surface. “I want it to be nice,” he said. “But I also don’t want to pay a million dollars for a basketball court.”

“It’s something that a lot of citizens can use,” Windham observed.

“It’d be nice to have,” Councilman Max Allen commented.

Windham submitted the quotes he had so far received to the council and said as soon as he got any cheaper ones, he would turn those into the council as well. “I’m trying to find some grants,” he added.

“I’ll check into them (the grants) and see what I can find,” said Mayor Marva Gipson. “I’ll see what I can come up with.”