Nursing company will help replace aging Delmont basketball court

A year ago, it would have cost Delmont upwards of $65,000 to replace the aging, cracked basketball court at Newhouse Park.

Now, thanks to an offer from Salem Township-based Dedicated Nursing Associates and reimbursement from a previous grant, it may only cost the borough about $17,000.

“DNA has offered to take the existing basketball and dek hockey courts out and replace them with one basketball court,” Councilman Stan Cheyne said. “It will be built to the same size as a high-school basketball court.”

In addition to sustaining wear-and-tear over the years, the basketball court is undersized, Cheyne said.

A $50,000 contribution from DNA would pay the lion’s share of the cost. The borough already committed $15,000. Prevailing-wage issues pushed the cost from $65,000 up to $79,000, Cheyne said, but the borough recently received about $8,700 as reimbursement from a Growing Greener grant that was not fully utilized, and the Delmont Recreation Board chipped in an additional $4,000.

Borough public-works crews would handle removal of the old court, and a contractor would handle the replacement as well as fencing.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Council President Andy Shissler. “It’s an opportunity to make some needed improvements to Newhouse Park.”

Council voted 6-0 to commit the additional funding. Councilwoman Pamela Simpson was not present.