A newsmaker you should know: Platform tennis player leads group to renovate North Park courts
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Lots of folks likely have noticed the raised, small tennis courts in North Park next to the full-size courts.
The courts are used for platform tennis, and through the efforts of Ed Jaicks and other members of the North Park Platform Tennis Association, they've gotten a whole lot better.
Mr. Jaicks, president of the association, recently oversaw improvements to the courts financed, in part, by a $10,000 grant from the Growth Committee of the American Platform Tennis Association.
He and other members of the North Park association volunteered their own time and money to keep the courts in top form for their practices, games and competitions.
"The county had a lot of difficulty funding someone to man the courts to oversee things and to pay for the upkeep," he said, "They support us, of course, but funding is tight."
Mr. Jaicks' association, which has about 130 members, "was started in the '90s to not only play but to help maintain the courts," he said. The organization has a lease with Allegheny County to maintain the courts for its members and the public, he said.
After fundraising efforts and the award of the grant, the North Park association built two aluminum platform courts to replace wooden ones. They also renovated another court and a warming hut, both of which were damaged in the February snowstorm. The new and renovated courts were dedicated in September.
Propane heaters also were added -- an improvement from older kerosene heaters often used, Mr. Jaicks said. Heaters are needed because the platform tennis season runs from October through February. The warming units underneath the raised courts keep the surface warm to prevent players from slipping on cold or wet surfaces.
Mr. Jaicks described platform tennis as a hybrid between racquet ball and tennis. The court has a center net and is less than half the size of a regular tennis court. Players use special paddles and balls.
"Even at zero degrees, players end up playing in short sleeves when they are really running," he said.
In addition to the grant from American Platform Tennis Association, association members raised money with a matching challenge from Mr. Jaicks.
"I told the members that if we had 80 percent of our members make a donation, I would match it," he said. "Well, over 90 percent made a donation and we were able to raise some $20,000 from that alone."
Many of the volunteers helped with labor and they also found a used court, which saved money. Local businesses donated some materials at cost or for free.
The North Park association has 16 men's and women's teams. Members range in age from teens through seniors.
First Published October 21, 2010 12:00 am
