By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend anticipates having the Musco mini-pitch double soccer court system installed at Heizer Park on May 12, and the Great Bend City Council took a step to improve the surfacing of the court. At Monday’s meeting, the council approved the quote from Merritt Tennis & Track Systems for $27,930 to place an acrylic surface on the court to add to the aesthetics and long-time preservation of the concrete.
City Administrator Logan Burns said the original project did not include any surfacing on the mini-pitch courts, just the concrete slab.
"Merritt pretty much does all of Musco's work," said Burns. "They came highly recommended by Musco as well. They do a lot of work in Oklahoma City. Long-term, I think it will be a better product for the mini-pitch courts. This will be able to preserve that and give actual lines for the system."
Great Bend was awarded grant funds from the Land & Water Conservation Fund through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) in the amount of $161,260 with matching funds from the city for a total of $361,260.
Great Bend was able to save money on some other line items that will make it possible to put the acrylic surface on the court. The court will be blue and gray and will include the City of Great Bend logo at midcourt.
The Heizer Park improvements also include a restroom facility, upgrades to the sand volleyball and basketball court and a soccer field with new netting.