Albion presents ‘Community Service Award’ to Susan Oschmann for spearheading new basketball courts

Photos by Tom Rivers: Susan Oschmann accepts a “Community Service Award” from Albion mayor Angel Javier Jr. It was presented during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting.

ALBION – Susan Oschmann made it a mission two years ago to get new basketball courts at Bullard Park.

Oschmann rallied the community, including basketball legend Roosevelt Bouie, in getting two new courts complete. They opened on Oct. 26.

The Albion Village Board on Wednesday presented its first “Community Service Award” to Oschmann in appreciation for her efforts leading the charge for the new courts.

“The Village of Albion presents this award in acknowledgement of your commitment to serving others and your community,” states the award which is signed by Mayor Angel Javier and Tracy VanSkiver, the village clerk/treasurer.

The previous court was back further in the park and the surface wasn’t level with asphalt heaving in sports. The hoops were missing nets and were seldom used.

Oschmann pushed for the project not long after moving to Albion from Kendall. She wanted kids, including her grandchildren, to have a place to shoot basketballs with friends.

She has been friends with Bouie since they were kids. Bouie was a big star at Syracuse University and he helped secure $40,000 in funding from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

The village and Bounce for Bullard so far have raised $98,000 for the project with another $10,000 in in-kind services.

Judge Sanford Church donated money to pay for two of the basketball hoops. The Albion United Methodist Church donated $45,000 towards the project. The Wendel engineering firm did designs and renderings for the basketball courts that helped Albion pursue grant funding. The Orleans County United Way also helped pursue grants and set up a non-profit organization to advance projects at Bullard.

Oschmann said there is still more to do – about $50,000 is needed for more fencing as well as benches for spectators in a shaded area and working outdoor lights.

Two donors have offered to pay for two of the benches, Oschmann told the board on Wednesday. Those donors would like a memorial plaque to be on the stainless steel benches.

Oschmann also was a key organizer for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” this past Saturday in Albion.

Albion boys and girls basketball players play on the new courts at Bullard Park on Oct. 26, when the new paint was dry and the courts were made available for the first time to the community.