New pickleball courts getting sealed, painted at Bullard in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Pickleball courts at Bullard Park in Albion are becoming a reality. There are two courts fenced in next to the basketball courts.

Today, a crew from JM Pro Courts & Surface Solutions in Lancaster is putting sealer on pavement that used to be part of the parking lot at Bullard. Later today, the company is expected to paint the courts purple with green on the perimeter similar to the basketball courts.

JM Pro Courts & Surface Solutions clears off any dust and debris before putting the sealer down.

The project is the latest improvement at Bullard. The Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization that has secured grants and other funding for Bullard improvements, is pushing the pickleball addition.

Susan Oschmann, a member of G-ACRE, said about $5,000 is needed to finish off the pickleball courts. She said some generous donors, including Judge Sanford Church, have paid for fencing and part of the costs for the sealing and painting.

She will be at Rock the Park on Friday and Saturday selling $5 tickets for a wine and beer raffle to raise money for the final work on the new courts.

There is also a GoFundMe set up for people to donate towards the remaining cost of the courts. Click here for more information.

Photo courtesy of Greg Jones

The first coat is on the two pickleball courts, with paint to follow.

Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the US the past four years. Players use paddles to hit a perforated ball over a net. The court space is much smaller than a tennis court.

There will be demonstrations Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. on the new courts for people to learn the rules of the sport and see players in action.

If the pickleball courts are popular in Albion, there is room next to them for two more to be added in the future, Oschmann said.

Photo courtesy of Susan Oschmann

The purple paint gets applied to the courts this afternoon.