HOOP DREAMS; A 30-year-old vision is becoming a reality for Steve Burgo
DARTMOUTH — Thirty years ago, Steve Burgo had a dream of one day building an indoor sports complex for the area’s youth in Dartmouth.
He spent the last dozen years facing one hurdle after another.
Burgo never took ‘no’ for an answer.
His persistence has paid off.
Burgo recently signed a 30-year lease with the Town of Dartmouth so that he can build a 65,000 square foot facility on the land behind the Burgo Basketball Association’s outdoor complex on Slocum Road.
“It feels really, really good,” Burgo said after signing the lease on March 27. “It’s been a long, hard road. The select board and my board have worked together to get this done. I’m happy that it’s done.
“The most important thing is the kids. That sounds corny, but I’m being honest with you. That’s what I’ve been about since day one.”
BASKETBALL: Team Wareham rallies to beat Team Fall River in marquee matchup of 2024 Herren Shootout
And that’s the reason why Burgo never gave up.
Each summer the outdoor courts at Burgo are packed with boys and girls of all ages and all skill levels.
“When you service over 1,500 kids during the course of the summertime, you’re doing something right,” said Dartmouth Select Vice Chair Shawn McDonald. “This gives an opportunity for the kids in Dartmouth, but also the kids in the surrounding areas a place to go to that’s safe and they can play. It was a long time coming.”
From the days of hosting games in his own backyard in Dartmouth in the early 1990s, Burgo has always envisioned providing year-round opportunities for aspiring basketball players.
“We started in my backyard in 1994. We came here (Slocum Road) in 2004,” he said. “It’s been my dream for all of those years. I always had the idea.”
Burgo said the timing is just right.
“We’ve been working on trying to get the lease for 12 years,” he said. “I think it was divine intervention. We were having a lot of hassles, but in all honesty if we had built it and with COVID coming, I don’t know if we would have survived because nobody would have come. Now is the perfect time.”
The 65,000 square foot facility, which will be called the Burgo Basketball Complex, will feature six basketball/volleyball courts, a weight room, recreation room, indoor track and concession stand. The main court will have seating for between 1,200-1,600 fans. There is also talk of having batting cages.
BASKETBALL: Old Rochester's John Butler celebrates his birthday by winning MVP honors at the All-Star Challenge
“Any random kids from Bourne to Portsmouth RI and beyond can come here,” Burgo said. “If they want to come, they just come and play. We’re going to do memberships because we have to pay for the building.”
Burgo estimates the building will cost approximately $3.6 million and that is just for the steel to construct it. Donations and a bank loan will cover that cost. Burgo said that he’s relying on donations for the materials of the playing surfaces and sports equipment inside the building.
“We’re getting a lot of stuff donated,” he said, noting that people have already reached out about donating scoreboards and basketball hoops. “That’s how we’re able to do this.”
The plan also includes installing four outdoor soccer fields to be used by SouthCoast United Soccer Club.
“It’s going to give the community something they’ve been longing for for a very long time,” Burgo said, adding that the hope is to have the facility built by this time next year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the building up and cutting that ribbon for the first day,” McDonald said.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Burgo signs lease with Dartmouth to build indoor basketball complex
