Bridgeport council considers a new Bouska Square gazebo

BRIDGEPORT – Mayor Sergio Orozco told the April meeting of the city council that the gazebo in Bouska Square needs some TLC.

“Unfortunately, it’s starting to fall apart, and we need to start looking at options to replace it,” said Orozco. “Most of the wood is too far gone to try to repair part of it.”

The mayor asked Superintendent of Public Works Stuart Dezellem to provide a quote for this crew to replace it,

“Material-wise and concrete we are probably looking at about $5,000 to replace it, and that would be the crew doing it, said Orozco. “To have a contractor come in and do it we’d be looking at $10,000 at least.”

Dezellem estimates that four to five yards of concrete are needed to pour the base slab.

“I think it’s a great asset to have,” said council member Matt Schuh. “If we don’t have a resource like that the community misses out.”

The gazebo is the go-to site for the annual Santa Comes to Town celebration where families gather so the youngsters can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. It was also used for this spring’s Easter Egg Hunt since Berryman Park is off-limits while it undergoes upgrade work.

Clerk/Treasurer asked if the gazebo rebuild would be scheduled for next year.

“We are tackling the pool,” said Dezellem. “Along with that we have Memorial Day weekend at the cemetery and Bridgeport Daze.”

Dezellem explained that the multiple rebuild phases that would first involve tearing down the existing structure and removing the concrete base.

Once the structure size is determined Dezellem said a 6x6 pole framework would be constructed. The lumber company’s designer would then calculate the pitch and snow load for the roof rafters and deliver them to the site.

“We even looked purchasing one and assembling it on the pad,” said Orozco, “But they’re just not made with materials that would last for years.”

Dezellem estimated that the current gazebo has been in place since the mid-1990s when Bouska Square was developed.

“We would have to amend the budget to go forward with it,” said Bown. “That’s not a big deal, that we do all the time.”

“Let me look at our capital facilities plan that we have approved,” said Dezellem. “Typically, you should have that already preapproved.”

Brown mentioned that if it is in the plan, a grant may be applied to cover all or part of the replacement cost.

The council Parks Committee will also consider the issue, and all parties will report at the next council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 18.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media