‘It’s been a nightmare’: Burgo continues to face obstacles in road to recreational facility

Burgo Basketball Association is still hoping to break ground on its recreational facility this spring. 

The 30-year lease for the property on Slocum Road was signed last March, but the association continues to hit obstacles on the road to construction, including financing. 

Director Steve Burgo said prior to the Covid pandemic, 65,000 square feet of steel was going to cost them about $862,000. The price tag has since risen to approximately $3.6 million.

“That’s the issue,” Burgo said. “We wouldn’t have gone through this if it wasn’t for that.”

“The banks told me this building should have been built 10 years ago if it was up to them,” he said, but unfortunately, it took 16 years for the association to finally secure the 30-year lease that most banks require.

“It’s been a nightmare,” he said, adding he’s been in conversation with a number of individuals who could help finance the building, including one who’d like to get his father’s name on the building.

Burgo said the name goes to whoever gives the most money as he’s been trying to avoid the bank, but it looks like the association may have to opt for a loan anyways. 

The facility will be built in stages, with the first being the big gym, which will feature two courts side-by-side in a stadium that is set to fit about 1,200 to 1,600 people, according to Burgo. The rest of the facility will be added on to it piece by piece unless funding comes in to do it all at once.

“The only thing that’s important to me is the kids and when I say kids I’m talking New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Swansea, Portsmouth, Wareham, Onset — wherever — that’s the kids I’m talking about,” he said.

Considering the trouble kids get into at school and on the street, Burgo said, “The problem there is that these kids don’t have anything to do.”

He said it’s his goal to get this facility completed for them, so they have a place not only to play sports, but to also get tutoring and college prep in the planned classrooms.

The facility will additionally feature four soccer fields that are only awaiting design from the contracted architect as well as an upstairs track.

Full concessions will be available, with everyone already considering Burgo concessions a restaurant with his wife’s “phenomenal” menu, he said.

Burgo said it bothers him that the town has been planning its own recreational center, which began plans back in 2019.

“Why don’t you come over to Burgo Basketball and help us finish what we’re trying to do?” Burgo asked of the town. “Make the town part of it. I’ve never wanted town money to interfere with this at all. I didn’t want any money from the town, but if that's what's going to get it built.”

“I will do anything for any kid any time,” he added. “That’s just me and fortunately, that’s my board.”

Burgo highlighted his family, team and community that have all worked together over the years to make this program what it is. 

Recently, coach Abby Hurley joined the association board, which Burgo is excited about.

“I’ve got a lot of young blood now,” he said, noting the addition of Noah Fernandes, who won the state championship as a freshman point guard when he attended Old Rochester Regional High School before a successful college career, as well as John Garris, who was a star at Boston College and player on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Garris and Fernandes will be serving as coaches for the association.

Additionally, Claude Pritchard, a trainer from Boston who spent some time in China training athletes, will be joining Burgo as co-director.

“I love everything we’re doing,” Burgo said. “We won’t give up. I won’t give up — no matter what.”

He added he started this association 30 years ago in his backyard because of his father, who has been gone now for 26 years. 

“If I wasn’t doing this for the kids, all 26 years, even though he’s gone, I would have felt his foot up my butt,” Burgo said. “He got on me for this for a reason and my father was right.”

He added, “If we don’t take care of our future, we don’t have a future.”