Pickleball players request a court

Basketball court is under consideration for additional play space, and both sports would be accommodated, officials say

LOWER SALFORD >> Pickleball is coming to town.

“It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country,” Joanne Bergandino said at the April 5 Lower Salford Township Board of Supervisors meeting while requesting that the municipality add a place to play it.

“The only place in our township that we can play is at the Y,” Bergandino said.

She’s part of a group that plays there, but they also travel around to other municipalities to play the game, she said.

Other towns in the area that have pickleball courts include Hatfield, which is in the process of building more, she said.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, according to information on the USA Pickleball Association’s website at usapa.org.

Assistant Township Manager Mary West said Bergandino had already spoken to the park board, which supported Bergandino’s request. Additional lines could be put onto one of the township’s basketball courts so the court could be used for both basketball and pickleball, she said.

The group of pickleball players are senior citizens, Bergandino said.

There shouldn’t be scheduling conflicts between the two uses of the court because the seniors play pickleball during the day while most of the basketball is in the evening or on weekends, West said.

“It sounds like it really is something that we’ll be able to at least give a try,” West said.

Township officials said they don’t know yet when the pickleball court will be ready, but told Bergandino to go back to the park board and continue working on the plans.

In another matter at the meeting, the board issued a proclamation honoring Amy Munson and Julia Rostron for achieving Girl Scout Gold Awards.

Both are 2016 Souderton Area High School graduates and members of Troop 7644, which meets at the Harleysville Scout Cabin, according to Girl Scout information.

Munson has been in Scouting for 12 years and Rostron for 13 years.

“Amy worked with Sunny Willow Swim Club to create six picnic tables and benches for swim club guests to use. Amy’s goal was to give the members of the swim club a space where they can sit and enjoy a meal with their families throughout the day, as well as boost the number of members at Sunny Willow Swim Club,” according to Girl Scout information about Munson’s Gold Award project.

“Julia worked with Sunny Willow Swim Club to create a playground for the younger kids to use while at the swim club. Julia’s goal was to create space for younger kids to enjoy while their families are at the pool, as well as help boost the number of members at Sunny Willow Swim Club,” the information described Rostron’s project.

Munson is a student at Gwynedd Mercy University, where she is studying to be a nurse. Rostron is a student at the University of Rhode Island.