New Pickleball Courts at North Elba Athletic Fields: As pickleball’s popularity continues to surge, North Elba is stepping up to meet local demand with the completion of two new pickleball courts at North Elba Athletic Fields, located off Recycle Circle Lane. Town Supervisor Derek Doty provided insights into the project’s background and future enhancements in a recent conversation with the Enterprise.
Previously, the site featured four beach volleyball courts. The recent upgrade saw two of these courts replaced with pickleball courts, while the remaining two volleyball courts were preserved. “We started this project about three years ago and are nearing completion,” Doty explained. “There’s a gap between the fence and the base of the court that we plan to address for safety reasons. We want to ensure no one gets injured stepping on or off the court. Our goal is to make everything level,” said Town Councilman Dick Cummings.
Enhancements and Setbacks for New Pickleball Courts
Beyond addressing the gap, there are plans to complete landscaping and remove the remnants of the old volleyball posts. Doty also mentioned an upcoming addition of security cameras, which will not only enhance security but also provide real-time updates via the town’s website. “We don’t have a timeline yet for the cameras, but they will be up soon,” Doty noted.
The courts had a soft opening about a month ago, but the event was marred by an unexpected downpour. “A deluge came down that afternoon,” Doty recalled. The heavy rain resulted in $2,500 worth of blue court paint being washed away, requiring a costly redo.
Synergies and Future Plans for North Elba Athletic Fields
Bob Testa, the facility and operations manager for Summit Lacrosse Ventures, highlighted how the new pickleball courts will complement the existing lacrosse facilities. “Parents who frequently watch their kids play lacrosse can now enjoy some recreational time themselves,” Testa said. The influx of visitors from lacrosse tournaments presents both opportunities and challenges for local businesses. “It’s additional people, which business owners appreciate,” Testa added.
Looking ahead, Doty outlined a master plan that includes connecting the horse show grounds with the athletic fields to streamline traffic flow. Currently, the fields are somewhat isolated behind the horse show grounds and the Lake Placid airport. “I often help direct people from the horse show grounds to the athletic fields,” Testa said.
Cummings also revealed that the town’s plans include the construction of a mountain bike pump track within the athletic fields by next summer.
The new pickleball courts are open daily, reflecting North Elba’s commitment to expanding recreational opportunities for its community.
News in Brief: New Pickleball Courts at North Elba Athletic Fields
North Elba has expanded its recreational offerings with the addition of two new pickleball courts at the North Elba Athletic Fields, replacing two of the original four beach volleyball courts. Town Supervisor Derek Doty shared that while the project is nearly complete, enhancements including landscaping, removing old volleyball posts, and installing security cameras are planned. A recent soft opening was disrupted by heavy rain that damaged freshly painted courts, resulting in a $2,500 repainting cost. Looking forward, the town plans to connect the fields with the horse show grounds and add a mountain bike pump track by next summer.
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