Tag Archive for: #chestnutstreetpark

TownTalk: Chestnut St. Park Update, Basketball Court Renovations Underway

Anyone who’s driven by Chestnut Street Park since last weekend surely has noticed that there’s something going on – a transformation is taking place at the park, and Charles Turrentine, Jr. is happy to see the renovation get underway.

Turrentine cares about his community – Henderson, Vance County and certainly the area where he grew up near the Chestnut Street Park, where he and others grew up shooting hoops.

With funds now in place for Phase 1 of the park’s renovation, Turrentine said he’s fielded more than a few inquiries from people who’ve been by the park and noticed the work going on.

It started Saturday, and Turrentine said the asphalt has been broken up and the fences removed. “We’re turning up dirt,” he said. He remembers Chestnut Street Park as a safe place for young people to be, playing basketball or watching those pickup games that invariably broke out most days.

But it hasn’t had any attention since it first became a park, and it was time to do something. Past time, truth be told.

“It’s time we look at it and give it some much-needed love and care.” He said he appreciates the support and regular meetings with Rec and Parks Director Kendrick Vann and Henderson City Manager Hassan Kingsberry to help with plans for the Chestnut Street Park renovation.

 

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The Local Skinny! Vote For Chestnut Street Park Project To Win $100,000

 

Charles Turrentine Jr. got word about 24 hours ago that the Chestnut Street Park renovation project is among five finalists from across the country vying for $100,000 from Bobcat Company.

The project to make improvements to the basketball courts that operate under the city’s recreation and parks department is going to be a “game-changer,” Turrentine said. And getting a $100,000 infusion of cash would be a big deal indeed.

“We need everyone to share and support and vote for the Chestnut Street Park revitalization,” Turrentine said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

The project that gets the most votes wins, and Turrentine wants to spread the word so this local project comes out on top. Voters have to provide just a couple of bits of information to register and can cast one vote daily until the contest closes on Oct. 3.

Click on https://www.bobcat.com/na/en/campaigns/park-rec-makeover-2024 to cast your daily vote.

When the project was first talked about earlier this year, Turrentine said, the costs were somewhere around $100,000 to resurface the courts, add breakaway goals and lighting. That number swelled to more like $1 million to include a playground, shelter, water and bathroom facilities and a shed roof.

Turrentine reeled off some of the rough estimates: $20,000 to resurface the courts, $30,000 for new fencing, breakaway goals at $4,000 each and lights for extra security another $60,000. And that’s just for starters.

He said Kendrick Vann and the Henderson Rec and Parks Department is a partner, and the city of Henderson has committed to put in water that will allow for restrooms.

When it’s completed, it’ll change the whole landscape, Turrentine said. “We can see what redevelopment looks like.”

Turrentine and other park supporters want the city park to be a place for the whole community to enjoy; he wants the park to be known as a nice, modernized park where everyone has fun.

But it’s going to take everyone working – and voting – collectively, he said, to make the dream a reality.

“We can change the narrative of Henderson…we can get on that one path to change the narrative.”

When the construction gets underway in January 2025 – the fencing comes down, the asphalt removed and the rebuilding begins, “everybody in the city of Henderson will be well-pleased.”

If all goes to plan, the courts will be ready for action by May 2025.

And it hopefully won’t be much longer to wait to enjoy the additional amenities that will be part of the new and improved Chestnut Street Park.

Vote at https://www.bobcat.com/na/en/campaigns/park-rec-makeover-2024

 

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