CSA 70 D-1 ADVISORY COMMITTEE New pickleball courts on the horizon

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

Plans are in the works for five additional pickleball courts at MacKay Park.

That was the report from Henry Mac, the county’s Special Districts Operations Division manager, at the March 4 meeting of the advisory committee that oversees Papoose Dam and MacKay Park.

They are on track, Mac said, to begin construction this summer with an eye toward completion in the fall.

Pickleball Ambassador Kristy Rostawicki told the committee that pickleball aficionados are asking to have a say on the design and layout. They are also asking for shade structures on the sides of the court.

“How about an official survey so people feel like they’re giving their input?” she asked.

Mac said he would “have to ask up the chain” to see if there would be any challenges with a survey. “When you do something like this, you get a lot of input that would affect the project and its cost,” he said. He also expressed concern about delaying the start of the project.

New signs have been posted at the existing three courts, outlining the guidelines for their use. Those guidelines include:

1. Courts are for pickleball only.
2. Bicycles, skateboards and roller skating are prohibited.
3. Court/tennis shoes only (non-marking soles) on courts.
4. Limit of four people playing on any one court at one time. Groups waiting to play must wait outside of the courts area and not impede play.
5. No food or glass containers on courts.
6. No profanity or unsportsmanlike conduct.
7. No animals permitted on courts.
8. No private lessons are permitted on these courts unless authorized by San Bernardino County Department of Public Works – Special Districts.
9. County-sponsored programs have priority over all other uses and requests.
10. All users are expected to practice fair play.

District Coordinator Andy Duchateau reported that Papoose Lake was a foot over full at 5,115. He noted they have to release water at two feet over full. That released water goes into Little Bear Creek, then Deep Creek and eventually the Mojave River.

The new toilets at MacKay Park were completed in October. They served the public well while the weather was warm, Duchateau said. They are currently closed as the water would freeze were it turned on.

Mac told the committee they are putting together a bid package for the new maintenance building.

In the annual election of officers, Ken Witte was reelected chair of the committee and William Kanayan was elected vice chair.