Billy Bostic Friday keeping watch on progress at Edgewood Park.
From his front-row seat under Edgewood Park’s “Lyin’ Tree,” Billy Bostic was heartened to see a crew working on a new tennis court surface — and disheartened to see skateboarders and rollerbladers potentially mar the new work.
Bostic, a retired firefighter who teaches tennis at Hillhouse High School and to people at Edgewood Park, watched Friday as a crew from the Madison-based “Driveway Doctor” contracting company put finishing touches on new pavement on one of the courts undergoing renovation. The estimated $600,000-$625,000 project will include repaved courts, three new pickleball courts, and updated seating and lighting at the popular park.
The fencing isn’t up yet — and, Bostic reported, skateboarders and rollerbladers have been entering the not-yet-finished courts to try out the surfaces.
He pleaded with them to cross the pedestrian bridge to the Edgewood skate park instead. “These are tennis courts that are not made to be skated on,” he said.
Click on the above video to watch Bostic make his pitch.
City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said the fencing should go up shortly, and final trenching for lights should be put in next week.
“We’re wrapping up” the project, he said. No date has yet to be set for completion, he said, but “we’re aiming for later this month.” At which point Bostic and the park’s other avid players will be ready to retake the court.
Tell 'em, Billy!