Pickleball players say problems persist at Canalfront Park courts

Pickleball players who use the recreational courts at Lewes Canalfront Park say the city failed in its attempt to make the courts playable again. 

About 40 players gathered Aug. 16 to try out the recently resurfaced courts. From the first bounce, they didn’t like what they saw or heard when the ball hit the surface, which is made of a composition material with a floating sub-surface.

“Really bad. The ball does not bounce. There are too many dead spots on the court. In pickleball or tennis, you can’t have dead spots,” said John Schroeder of Lewes.

Players were quick to demonstrate what he was talking about, dropping the ball on certain spots and seams, and getting little to no bounce. 

“You can tell by the sound when it hits the ground. It’s just got a weird sound to it,” said Lewes resident Tim Bane.

Al Gratz said he has been playing on the Lewes courts since 2012. “The city was sold a bill of goods last year by the contractor saying this surface was superior and they wouldn’t have to worry about any cracks. But the ball doesn’t bounce,” he said.

“I prefer to go back to asphalt. It worked for us for a dozen years here,” said Ann Reed. “As a resident of the city, this is the only place where I can possibly play. Now I’m at the mercy of the private communities, friends who invite us or driving to Georgetown. These are my HOA courts and they’re unplayable.”

The complaints came two days after a contractor returned to lay down a new surface and markings.

The city signed a $151,000 contract to have the recreational courts, which are also used for tennis, resurfaced last year. So far, it has paid $121,000 of that contract. The latest resurfacing was done under warranty.

Lewes Parks and Marina Manager Janet Reeves admitted that, even now, the courts might not be perfect. She said a city supervisor watched the new resurfacing. She said the contractor explained that they put down more layers of the base to try to level it out with the floating sub-surface.

Reeves said she will talk to City Manager Ann Marie Townshend about what the city can do next.

Most of the pickleball players who showed up for the test run belong to the nonprofit First State Pickleball Club, which has 700 members, mostly from Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

They said what makes the Lewes court situation even worse is that Sussex County does not have enough public pickleball facilities.

“You make the Kent County comparison, and they have all kinds of facilities up there that are really four-star facilities,” said Bane.

First State member and certified pickleball coach Chuck Connolly said the facility at the John M. Clayton Elementary School in Dagsboro is one of the best around.

“The Indian River School District gives us carte blanche over there,” he said. “We run their 10 courts. We put a lot of money into it.”

He said the group paid for resurfacing, new nets and received a $30,000 donation for lights.

Players have to bring their own pickleball nets to the Canalfront Park courts.

Players said attempts to convince the City of Lewes to build courts in Great Marsh Park or near the Lewes Public Library have not worked out, mostly because of opposition from neighbors.

The basketball court at Canalfront Park was also resurfaced as part of the project. 

“I feel like I definitely like it better with the new surface,” said Sean Constantine of Wilmington, who was playing one-on-one with his brother.