BEAUMONT, Texas — The answer to a problem some Beaumont residents brought to city council is coming in the form of a shiny new gym floor.
Some residents feel the current basketball court floor at the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center has deteriorated to the point of a safety hazard. Beaumont City council members are answering the calls of concern.
The Beaumont City Council approved a brand-new basketball court for the center.
For Councilman A.J. Turner the issue is personal. He coached youth basketball before he took office and has been pushing for a new floor since he took office.
“My second council meeting I brought it up,” Councilman Turner said. “And I literally advocated the entire year, even in budget season, and staff heard me and enough council supported the recommendation, and everybody voted in favor 7-0 ."
Now the old court at the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center is about to get a major upgrade, one that Councilman Turner feels is long overdue.
“A lot of the kids felt like the community or the city council didn't care because it hasn't been replaced in so long,” Councilman Turner said.
The floor will cost the city $75,000. The money will come from the city’s $1.4 million parks and recreation budget. The design will feature the City of Beaumont's official colors.
Councilman Turner feels the upgrade means just as much to him as it does to families in the community because he is a former youth coach.
"It got to the point where the kids were literally sliding on the floor while they were trying to play ball, so I told them if I ran, I would try my best to get this thing done,” Councilman Turner said.
Darrell Hayes has family that lives in the neighborhood where the center is located. He hopes the upcoming upgrades will keep players safe.
“My cousin, Lorenzo, he did complain about how the floor was kind of coming up and wasn't smooth, and it messed up the soles of their shoes,” Hayes said.
Hayes believes the new change will give children in the neighborhood something to look forward to.
“I think they would appreciate it a lot more and know the city is trying to do something for them," Hayes said. "If we have more things like the rec center, it will benefit the youth."
Councilman Turner expects the new floor to be installed by the end of 2023.
“I pride myself in relationships because it ultimately boils down to having the majority of votes to get things done,” Councilman Turner said.
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