Salisbury’s Waterside Park to get new courts

Those who are used to playing basketball at Salisbury’s Waterside Park will have to find another area to play at least for a month as the city remodels the courts.

Construction was needed to replace the playing surface that was cracked and deformed, making it dangerous to play on.

Public Works director Michael Moulds said the city will  mill off the existing pavement before adding new fencing,  new hoops and backboards and a brand new playing surface.

“So that’ll correct and take any cracks, more uniform level surface, you know so when you’re playing basketball you’re not dribbling and the balls going one way and you’re going the other,” Moulds said.

The $78,000 project is expected to be finished by end of the month if weather permits. 

Moulds said  the money came from a county contract for open spaces.

Salisbury Mayor Jake Day said the city’s commitment to renovating parks, such as Waterside, reflects a shift in what Salisbury is trying to do for the younger generation.

“You know it was only a year or two ago that the dialogue in our community about our young people was about curfew and you know today I think we’ve tried to reframe that conversation and what are we offering our kids to keep them active and to keep them engaged,” Day said.

Included in the renovations will be a new gazebo courtesy of Lowe’s Home Improvement  as well as small project to reduce some the overgrown vegetation so the nearby creek is more visible.