Residents urge Ramsey council to restore evening pickleball hours, press for Finch Park repairs; council schedules ordinance process

Dozens of Ramsey residents testified at the July 23 Mayor and Council meeting, urging elected officials to extend evening hours at town pickleball and tennis courts, repair and expand facilities at Finch Park, and reconsider a recent amendment to Ordinance 13-2025 that reduced town-exclusive play time.

Nick Capuano, who identified himself as representing the Ramsey pickleball community and said he carried a petition signed by "over 300 Ramsey residents," told council the new schedule severely limits access for working adults, families and school‑age players and asked the borough to "reassess and expand the hours at the pool and Finch Park courts" and to prioritize proper resurfacing. "These courts aren't just asphalt and nets. They're where friendships are formed, health is improved, and the community is built," he said.

Why it matters: Players and several speakers described pickleball as an intergenerational, low‑barrier activity that supports health and social connection; opponents cited noise and proximity to homes. The split has produced confrontations at closing times and raised questions about both enforcement and how the borough balances recreation access with neighborhood impacts.

Residents offered specific proposals and complaints. Stacy McMahon read a letter arguing that Ramsey contributed roughly $85,000 (about 53.1%) of the $160,000 cost to reconstruct East Oak courts in 2010 and so should receive more exclusive playtime at that site. Laura Capuano proposed seasonally adjusted hours (for example, April 1–Oct. 1, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.) and urged relocating designated courts within the pool area or installing noise‑reducing barriers; she also urged a full renovation at Finch Park with four additional courts and lighting so Finch could serve as a regional hub. Other speakers described confrontations at closing time and urged compromise rather than court removal.

Council response and next steps: Mayor Dylan acknowledged the concerns and proposed selecting up to three resident representatives to work with the Utilities, Buildings & Grounds committee (Councilwoman Cusk chairs UB&G) to craft options. The mayor announced that an ordinance to improve Finch Park — including resurfacing and lighting — would be introduced that evening. He said the clerk will publish notice, a public hearing on the ordinance will be scheduled for the Aug. 27 meeting, and the council expects final action in September. "Lighting is part of the ordinance that's being introduced tonight for the Finch Park courts," the mayor said.

What was not decided: The council did not vote to change court hours at the meeting; Council members said any ordinance or rule change must follow the public‑notice and hearing process. The existing hours remain in effect until any new ordinance is passed.

Next procedural step: Residents and council members will propose representatives for the working group; the UB&G committee will meet with those representatives and the borough will publish the Finch Park ordinance and hold a public hearing in August.

Provenance: Public‑comment testimony beginning with SEG 254 (Nick Capuano) through mayoral responses and ordinance‑introduction remarks at SEG 1230–SEG 1310.