Pickleball club asks Fredonia for $910 to repair Russell Joy Park courts; trustees offer follow-up meeting

Members of the Chautauqua Pickleball Club urged the Village of Fredonia on Monday to fund immediate repairs to the Russell Joy Park tennis/pickleball courts, asking for $910 to fill and seal roughly 600 square feet of cracking surface and to extend playability for about two years.

Ed Kirschmeyer, president of the Chautauqua Pickleball Club, told trustees the group grew from seven players in 2017 to 252 paid members in 2023–24 and had 190 paid members so far this season. "To date, we have 190 people already as paid members," Kirschmeyer said, noting the club supplies its own equipment, bought a windscreen and an automated external defibrillator for the park (each about $1,800), and volunteers for park maintenance and youth instruction.

Kirschmeyer described the requested repair scope: crack filling with sand, a filler bar, and a two-part finish (a product he referred to as Novaquark) to seal about 600 square feet; labor would be coordinated with the Department of Public Works. He said the repair product should last roughly two years before resurfacing is needed.

Mayor Mike Ferguson thanked the club for volunteer work and capital investments and said village staff are already talking with engineers and partners about rehabbing or replacing the courts. "We are talking with a couple of people about parks in general about rehabbing those courts or replacing those courts. So we can set up a meeting to go through some of the details," Ferguson said.

Trustees did not vote on an immediate grant of funds. The mayor asked club representatives and staff to meet within a week to review options and next steps, including potential matching grants; Kirschmeyer noted the USTA has a 100% matching grant program for full court replacement and that the club has consulted vendors about resurfacing costs.

Why this matters Russell Joy Park serves a mix of local recreation users and, according to club leaders, draws large participation. The club highlighted safety concerns and steady volunteer contributions; trustees said they aim to prioritize safety and consider long-term options while supporting short-term fixes.

What's next Village staff and club representatives will meet to outline repair scope, costs, and funding options. Trustees said they hope to identify short-term funds to address safety concerns and explore grant opportunities for full replacement.

Votes at a glance - No formal motion or vote on the $910 repair request; trustees agreed to discuss options and meet with club representatives and DPW.

Community context The club reports offering youth instruction in area summer programs, maintaining courts and installing safety equipment, and expects membership to exceed last season's 252 paid members.