M'burgh Village Looking to Add Basketball Court at Skating Rink

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Though it is the dead of winter, members of the Middleburgh village board had a summer game on their minds last week.

Trustee Amanda Fernandez told fellow board members last Monday that several have approached her and asked about putting a permanent basketball court in Badgely Park near the old skating rink across from the former town hall. There are several home-schooled children in the area that could benefit from the court, she added. Ms. Fernandez attended the meeting virtually last week.

The rink would be the perfect setting for a court, she said. During the summer there is a temporary, mobile hoop set up in the rink.

The court would have a great positive impact on the park, Ms. Fernandez added.

The rink was built about 20 years ago by members of the Rotary but has not been able to hold water for ice for several years. In addition, the concrete walls can be a safety hazard, some board members said.

Trustee Kevin Young said it would be nice to use it again as a rink, but it would cost too much to repair it.

A court, of course, would require some poles, concrete padding, and some netting to prevent wayward balls from getting loose..

Board members agreed to have Trustee Fernandez get quotes to put in the court in at the park.