Bemus Point pickleball players are raising money to resurface the pickleball courts in the village.

Pickleball is played on a court, so in western New York, that means indoor play during the winter and outside is an option during the late spring through summer and into fall. Because of the increase in players wanting to get in the game, multiple court options have sprung up all around Chautauqua County.

One of the oldest venues outside are the courts in Bemus Point. In the green space near the lake, there are courts used for basketball and on at least four days a week, they are used for pickleball. On play days, the courts are cleaned off and set up with portable nets. Players arrive from all over to get into the games. There are local folks and visitors to the area who love the game and join in for a day, a few weeks while visiting the area or for the summer if they are here for the season.

The courts need to be resurfaced and repainted. There are cracks in the surface that have widened enough to be a safety concern. Because the courts are adjacent to the children’s playground, when the courts are not being used by basketball players or for pickleball games, young children ride their trikes and wheeled toys on the flat surface.

The Village of Bemus Point and the pickleball players have joined together to seek funding and provide in-kind services to get this court resurfacing project done this spring. A grant request was approved by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for Phase One to repair and put down new asphalt on the courts. Money is being raised for the second phase to have the lines painted on for basketball and pickleball courts and seal the surface, repair and repaint the fence, add gravel to ensure safe access to the courts, and provide more benches and tables in the area.

Send donations to the Court Resurfacing Project may be sent to the Bemus Point Village Office at PO Box 450. Anyone wishing more information may contact Carol Hay or contact Brenda Knipe at the Village of Bemus Point office 716-386 4398.