Pickleball courts coming soon to a new and improved Veterans Park
A photo taken last week of the ongoing demolition work at Veterans Park in East Northport, where two volleyball courts are being converted into pickleball courts.
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Demolition of the asphalt volleyball courts at Veterans Park in East Northport began last week, part of a larger plan that includes the conversion of the volleyball area to pickleball courts. Veterans Park is located on Bellerose Avenue, between Larkfield and Old Bridge Road in East Northport.
Park amenities closest to Bellerose Avenue included for years, from west to east, two basketball courts, two handball courts and the two now demolished volleyball courts. According to plans supplied by the Town of Huntington, renovations to the area will include removal and replacement of all fencing around the area’s perimeter, resurfacing of the existing handball courts, and the creation of three pickleball courts.
Invented in 1965 near Seattle, Washington, pickleball has evolved into a popular sport throughout the United States and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts. The sport combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, and can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. It is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Players use a paddle and a plastic ball with holes to compete in doubles or singles games.
Members of the Huntington town board approved funding for the improvements to Veterans Park at their October 20, 2020 meeting. The money for the upgrades is provided via the town’s EOSPA Park Improvement (up to $100,000) and EOSPA Neighborhood Parks (up to $140,000) funds.
In addition to the asphalt court improvements and conversions, the existing single sand volleyball court (on the hill) will be reconfigured and expanded into two volleyball courts with new nets, sand and fencing.
Town of Huntington officials anticipate work – much of which is weather-dependent – will take two months to complete. The asphalt has to sit for 30 days prior to painting and striping.
Original plans for the area at Vets Park with improvements including the resurfacing of the existing handball courts as well as the addition of three pickleball courts. All work except the resurfacing of the basketball courts was funded, as the basketball court was determined to be in good condition. Image courtesy of the Town of Huntington.
