There’s a group of Galesburg residents that were quick to make sure their voices were heard before the City Council made a decision that the group wouldn’t have been too fond of.
Aldermen last week ultimately tabled a decision to replace the pickleball courts at Bateman Park with a new setup that would be tile-based and with a subsurface that is supposed to be shock-absorbent.
That happened after local players called the city and suggested they hold off.
“The reputation for plastic tiles is not good among the pickleball community,” said Sue Hulett, retired Knox College professor and avid pickleball player. “It’s not a good bounce. There are dead spots. So, there’s some real concern. If you try to put plastic tiles on the surface we have out at Bateman, will that be a good fit? We’re not sure it will be.”
Hulett says she’s played on the tile-based courts already in place at Lakeside Recreation Facility, and tells WGIL she likes playing at Bateman much better.
Local pickleball players use the courts at Bateman several times a week, Hulett said, noting as many as 20 players could be playing on the pickleball courts at one time.
But, even the closest to perfect scenario for those players may not be that good of an idea.
“The surface at Bateman would be a good surface,” said Lori Mason, pickleball player. “The problem is that, unfortunately over the years, (they city) just went over the top of (the surface that was there). Any time there’s cracks, those cracks will eventually come back.”
Mason tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL in a perfect world, maybe Bateman Park would be replaced with an all-new facility, but she knows that’s a bit expensive.
Samples of the new court are expected to come to Galesburg so players can try them out and give their feedback, before the city council makes any final decision.
Local pickleball players have had a Facebook page they’ve communicated about play, reacted to things like proposed changes, and more.
