Veterans Memorial Park Pickleball Upgrade: The Town of Westerlo officially opened its newly refurbished athletic complex on August 6, unveiling a resurfaced tennis court and two new pickleball courts at Veterans Memorial Park. The $94,000 project was funded through a mix of town reserves and a $19,000 Albany County grant.
Community Effort Behind the Project
The upgrades were led by the Citizens Committee for Parks Improvement, chaired by Westerlo Town Councilwoman Lorraine Pecylak. She said, “This was a big project. The court was in terrible shape – it was all full of weeds and just horrible looking. We now have a new fence around the basketball court and we are working on the playground now. There is lots more to do and more to come.”
Construction was handled by Luizzi Brothers Inc. of Watervliet, with major assistance from the Westerlo Highway Department. Crews transformed the old tennis court into a dual-use space for both sports.
Planning and Growing Interest
Lisa DeGroff, the town’s confidential administrator, explained, “This project came out of the Citizens Committee for Parks Improvement, which started about three years ago. A group of people from town got together and went through both parks and identified things that could be improved, renovated or added, and this was one of the things we thought would be a good idea.”
Pickleball has quickly gained popularity among residents. Even before the courts opened, a group called the Hilltown Pickleball Players formed, now with 25 members.
Leadership Support and Funding
Westerlo Town Supervisor Matt Kryzak called the courts part of a larger vision. “The park in general is making a lot of improvements. The goal moving forward is to make more improvements — we are well on our way, but the more we can add adds assets for the community, the better. Leisure or recreational activities are part of building a community and having a sense of community.”
Kryzak noted the grant from Albany County was essential. “We have a fund balance and reserves. We saved up enough money to get the work done. The grant was a blessing because every little bit helps, but we did have to pay out of pocket. Getting the $19,000 [from the county] was a huge benefit to the community.”
Albany County Legislator Chris Smith, who supported the funding request, said, “All 39 legislators voted yes for it. They have done so much at the Westerlo park. Pickleball started out with seniors, and now all ages, including kids, play it. It’s a game for all ages.”
County Partnership and Park Investment
Cameron Sagan, Albany County’s director of policy, attended the ceremony and emphasized cooperation with local towns. “Albany County doesn’t have a ton of parks – we realize that we really need to tap into partnerships with our municipalities and fund the parks that we already have – these hidden gems. When the Legislature came to us, along with Chris Smith, and said let’s put some money toward this, we said count us in. Investments like this are a no-brainer because it’s investing in the health and wellness of people and creating a sense of community. We are happy to be a part of this.”
Highway Department’s Role
Lorraine Pecylak praised local workers for their contribution. “The highway department played a big part in this. They cleared all of the brush, they painted, put down benches — they were incredibly helpful.”
Looking Ahead
Town leaders say more park upgrades are coming. Kryzak urged residents to thank the Albany County Legislature and continue supporting these efforts. “Anytime that you invest in the community it shows that the taxpayers’ money is going to good use because they are getting something back. Larger communities generally have more resources and can provide more for their community, but I think Westerlo does a really good job with the resources that we have — maximizing what we can provide, especially in the parks.”
News in Brief: Veterans Memorial Park Pickleball Upgrade
Westerlo opened refurbished tennis and pickleball courts at Veterans Memorial Park on August 6. The $94,000 project was funded by town savings and a $19,000 Albany County grant. Local leaders, county officials, and residents celebrated the upgrade, which is part of wider park improvements planned for the community.
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