First layer put down for new basketball courts at Bullard

Effort still about $100,000 for top rubberized layer, new hoops, fencing

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Keeler Construction in Barre put down the first layer for two full-size outdoor basketball courts at Bullard Park today.

The subsurface layer also fills in water holes and uneven parts of the surface that was used for a skate park and parking.

Another ¼-inch layer will go on Tuesday.

The “Bounce for Bullard” Committee still needs about $100,000 to put on a final rubberized layer,, as well as four hoops and fencing on the south side of the courts to help prevent basketballs from going onto Route 31 (East Avenue).

The new layers being put down today and Tuesday are funded with a $40,000 grant from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation. The Greater Albion Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization, secured the funding with assistance from the Orleans County United Way.

“I’m very excited to see it getting done this morning,” said Susan Oschmann, one of the leaders of the basketball court effort in Albion.

She is planning a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Aug. 5 as part of the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard. The tournament is expected to be played on the new courts with portable hoops. The rubberized surface won’t be ready by then because the funding needs to be raised.

Oschmann said the Bounce for Bullard Committee will continue to do fundraisers, and seek donations and grants to pay for the rest of the project.

Future 3-on-3 and adult basketball tournaments are expected to raise funds for maintenance of the courts.