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Ogdensburg residents eye pickleball court as city considers future of skate park

Posted 5/14/17

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG -- Several residents are hoping the Ogdensburg skate park could be transformed into a pickleball court, if the city chooses to close it. “We have read that due to the …

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Ogdensburg residents eye pickleball court as city considers future of skate park

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Several residents are hoping the Ogdensburg skate park could be transformed into a pickleball court, if the city chooses to close it.

“We have read that due to the lack of funding for the Recreation Dept. they may not be able to hire a monitor for the skateboard park. An alternate use for the skateboard park would be to convert it into pickleball courts. Pickleball courts would not require a monitor the park could operate like the existing tennis courts. Last year we were grateful for the use of the Lockwood Arena for playing pickleball, however the playing time was limited as an attendant was required to be at the arena when the courts were open,” a letter sent to Ogdensburg City Councilor from Deb Sullivan and Judy Pearson says.

The park was established around 2005 after city youths banded together to create a safe place to skate, but over the past few years the park has drawn criticism. Reoccurring issues at the park led the city to hire a monitor for the months of June, July and August from 2 to 8 p.m.

But costs associated with the monitor have prompted discussions of closing the skate park.

Last summer Recreation Commission, chairman Tom Pinkerton said he is an advocate for closing the park and replacing it with tennis or basketball courts. Other discussions at that meeting suggested relocating the park to a lot near the Lockwood Arena to get it out of the city’s greenbelt, which is considered a tourist attraction.

However, to date the city has not received a recommendation from the commission.

Councilor Daniel Skamperle said he has heard from advocates of the skate park, who have discussed an interest in raising money to put cameras in the skate park to alleviate the cost of a monitor. He said he’d like to see the park remain open, but would be ok with moving the location.

Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Curatolo said the issue would likely be discussed at the next committee meeting.

As for Sullivan and Pearon’s letter, their hopes to bring pickleball to Ogdensburg weren’t limited to one location.

“Having the pickleball courts at the old skateboard part gives players the option of playing at their convenience. Also the area could give us at least two and up to four pickleball courts at minimal cost to the city. Just have to paint lines and buy nets. Interest in pickleball is rapidly growing for all ages. Many pickleball players are driving to Canton due to no pickleball courts here,” the letter said. “We would really like to have outside pickle ball courts and another alternative would be to convert the current tennis courts into pickleball courts without eliminating the tennis courts. In areas where pickleball is popular many tennis courts are converted for both purposes.”

Pickleball is a game that shares some similarities with tennis, but involves paddles and an a plastic ball rather than a racket.