Posted Wednesday, February 17, 2010 ; 06:03 PM
Updated Wednesday, February 17, 2010; 07:10 PM
The State Journal
Story by Dani Brake
The project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
BRIDGEPORT -- Charles Pointe in Bridgeport continues to grow, and with growth, comes the need for infrastructure.
Wednesday's groundbreaking started a Stormwater Management Project, that will benefit the new city park that will soon break ground, as well as the residents of Stout's Run and Ann's Run.
The 40 acres of land along Route 131 in Bridgeport, will soon be home to a new city park. Before the park can break ground, a different project will take shape.
"The city of Bridgeport is going to install some retention ponds," says Mark Dellana, Director of Development at Charles Pointe, "and in addition, there will be nine detention ponds built throughout the complex."
City and state officials held a ceremony to start the $2 million stormwater project. All the funding is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"This is part of the stimulus package," says Bridgeport Mayor Jim Christie. "This is money that everybody's talking about 'why are we spending it?'"
"All of the sudden we're seeing there's $2 million being applied to this," added Congressman Alan Mollohan. "That's going to be jobs. That's a success."
Congressman Mollohan says projects like Stormwater Management, that build infrastructure, lay the ground work for the future.
"Every once in a while, you need to sit down and assess where you've come from, where you are, and what should be the strategic plan into the future."
Just as infrastructure is crucial to growth, officials say teamwork between the private and public sectors is crucial to success.
"If you look at successful projects anywhere," says Christie, "there is a working relationship between the private and the public sector and this is a prime example of where this has worked."
Officials say construction on the stormwater project will break ground as soon as the snow clears up. Christie says construction on the new park should begin as early as June.
