Little Used Exercise Equipment to be Removed from Baker Ave. Park
By David Avitabile
MIDDLEBURGH - An outdoor pickleball court may soon be coming to Middleburgh.
The pickleball court would be built in Badgely Park across from the former town hall. Village Trustee Amanda Fernandez in January spoke about possibly the space in Badgely Park for basketball court, but she said last week there was no feedback about adding a basketball court there. She met with Rotary members and discussed the possibility of adding two or three pickleball courts in Badgely Park. The Rotary is applying for a $12,000 grant which would help pay for the removal of the current curbing, remove some pavement, add the courts, and do some seeding.
Streets Superintendent Cole Keyser noted that the $12,000 might not cover all of the work. It may cost a lot, he said, to grind down the concrete curbing and add a fence. Someone else suggested a fence on the inside of the existing curbing. The funds, he added, would go further with a basketball court.
Trustee Fernandez said the Rotary has to apply for the grant first and then if the funds do not cover the cost of a pickleball court, other plans can be made. "If we can't move forward, we can't move forward," she said.
She saw this as a step in the right direction.
Board members agreed to ask Rotary to apply for the grant funds for the pickleball courts.
She also noted that some horseshoe pits could be added to Badgely Park. She said that some Rotary funds are available for this work.
As for the exercise equipment at Morton Park on Baker Avenue, board members, in a split vote, agreed to have the equipment removed.
The equipment is rarely used, Trustee Fernandez said. The equipment is also in the way when the village has events in that park and it is hard to maintain.
Village Clerk Mel Laraway said that the equipment was installed several years ago after being gifted to the village.
Mayor Tim Knight was in favor of retaining the equipment in the park noting that he has seen people use it.
At first, Trustee Fernandez said she would do more research since she did not want to remove it if it was a gift. Trustee Bob Tinker said the village could give the equipment back to whomever gifted it.
Mr. Keyser said he has only seen one person use the equipment and Trustee Kevin Young said there was no sense in keeping the equipment there. Trustee Tinker said he would "not be upset if it disappeared."
Board members voted 4-1 to remove the equipment.
Mr. Keyser noted that the horseshoe pits could be placed in that area after the equipment is removed.
Trustee Fernandez did note that it is a flood area and Mayor Tim Knight said it would be best left open.
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