Sandstoner Park Pickleball Court Policy: The Village of Potsdam has approved a new policy for managing the popular pickleball courts at Sandstoner Park on Pine Street. On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the Village Board, along with Mayor Alex Jacobs Wilke, passed the rules after weeks of discussion, aiming to improve how court time, fees, and disputes are handled.
New Management Rules in Place
The updated policy gives full management control of the courts to the Village of Potsdam Parks and Recreation Department. The policy outlines how court time is scheduled, how fees are collected, and how disagreements among players are settled. It also defines the continued role of the North Country Pickleball Community, also known as the North Country Pickleball Club.
Mayor Alex Jacobs Wilke said that the sport has grown fast in the village, more than expected. She noted that the courts have become a popular spot for residents who may not usually join other recreation programs.
“Our courts in particular have certainly had a renaissance of their own. Many people have flocked to this court,” Wilke said. “This is something that’s bringing new audiences who might not have been able to take part in other activities that we offer for our recreation programs.”
Village Takes On More Responsibility
Before the new policy, volunteers from the North Country Pickleball Club did much of the court maintenance and planning. But as the number of players increased and some disputes arose, the village decided to manage operations more directly.
Mayor Alex Jacobs Wilke thanked those who helped create the new rules, including Village Administrator Isabelle Gates-Shult, Recreation Director Logan Norris, and Deputy Mayor Lynzie Schulte. She said the plan supports the club’s efforts while making sure the village handles the daily tasks.
Deputy Mayor Lynzie Schulte added, “The board’s role is to represent all taxpayers and to provide thoughtful oversight on how our public resources are managed. That includes a lot of things, including the pickleball courts and Pine Street Arena and the parks and any of those public spaces.”
She said the goal is to ensure these areas are “accessible, inclusive and reflective of the entire community.”
Court Use, Fees, and Access
The new rules make it clear that the courts are public property, operated by the village. The Parks and Recreation Department will handle scheduling, maintenance, and finances. The village also removed old lifetime passes. New rates include a free trial for first-time players and kids under 17 with a paid adult. Other fees are:
- $5 for a daily pass
- $60 for an annual pass (for village, town, and school district residents)
- $120 for non-residents
Players must follow a Code of Conduct. If rules are broken, the Director of Parks and Recreation or the Village Administrator may take away court access without refunds.
Drop-in play is offered daily for two hours on a first-come, first-served basis. Outside that time, players can use Playtime Scheduler, though a time slot is not guaranteed. Disputes will be settled by the recreation director or village administrator.
Fees can be paid online, at the park’s concession stand or office, or in the court lockbox, which only village staff can access.
Club Stays Involved
The policy supports a continued partnership with the North Country Pickleball Club. The club will still offer weekly activities, host events, and welcome new players. It may also provide volunteers to help with court maintenance, working with village and public works staff.
The full policy will be posted on the village website.
Community Support and Comments
Over 30 members of the North Country Pickleball Community came to the board meeting, many speaking in support of the club and the updated plan.
Patricia Anne Broward said, “I appreciate your support from the North Country football community and sandstone courts and look forward to your continued collaboration with that community to offer village residents, neighbors and visitors a facility that fosters a physically, mentally and socially healthy community.”
Volunteer Teresa Fisher said she has met more people playing pickleball in the past five years than she did in 33 years in education.
“And it’s not only the quantity of people that I have met that makes that statement so spectacular. It’s the fact that the people that I have met are truly wonderful people. These people come from all walks of life,” Fisher said. “This is what the North Country Pickleball Community has done. It’s fostered this positive energy.”
Fisher added, “And that’s what connects us is because we are a family and I’d like to thank the Board, all of this is about again and I look forward to the opportunity of a positive resolution.”
Sean Partridge said his experience at the courts made him feel welcomed.
“I met more people, like I said, in that first couple months than I had met in my time in Boston, and I wasn’t alone. In the first year, we logged more than 4,000 individual registrations to play on the courts in 2023. The courts were booked for 120 out of 123 days that first season, a 98% usage rate, and we averaged more than 30 people a day playing in various sessions. That has only grown. Last year we were up more than 1000 individual reservations and continue to grow this year,” Partridge said.
He added, “What you will have created here as a village means something, and the beauty of that thing that you’ve built is that it is welcoming and that it is positive and that it is a true sense of community. It’s unique among other areas in the North Country that are doing pickle ball.”
News in Brief: Sandstoner Park Pickleball Court Policy
The Village of Potsdam approved new rules on July 29, 2025, to manage its popular pickleball courts at Sandstoner Park. The village will now handle scheduling, fees, and court use while still working with the North Country Pickleball Club. Residents and players voiced strong support for the changes.