By Greg Ellison

(April 21, 2022) The Ocean Pines Racquet Sports Committee discussed court repairs and facility expansions during its meeting on Thursday.

Committee Chair Rhett Parsons said the installation of additional pickleball courts is almost ready to begin.

“Public Works is about to start the site work,” he said.

Parsons said ground preparation and environmental aspects would be handled in-house prior to construction, with unknowns remaining as to when contractors would begin work.

“We don’t know the timing yet,” he said.

The problem of cracks on the court was also examined during the meeting last week.

Parsons said committee members are looking to schedule a date to meet with contractors and have Public Works Director Eddie Wells gather details on the repair particulars.

“We’ve submitted questions to have Eddie Wells ask the guy,” he said.

Those questions would include, according to Parsons, how much resurfacing would be needed to fix the cracks on the court’s surface.

“What options do we have in the short-term to get us through the season?” he said.

Also uncertain is how the weather will affect repair work.

“What’s our temperature range where we have to do this work?” he said. “If we have to do it in reasonably warm weather, that could end up impacting the later end of the season.”

Regardless of timing issues, Parsons said action to maintain courts in proper condition is needed.

“It effects all of our surfaces and the problem is the cracks are just getting worse,” he said.

Parsons also provided an update on forming a new subcommittee to develop recommendations for improvements at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Center.

“We’re going to put together a survey to solicit input from everybody on facilities and the center,” he said.

Parsons said the subcommittee would focus n structural needs and facility issues.

Subcommittee membership will include representatives from tennis, platform tennis and pickleball.

With court action increasing as temperatures rise, the committee also reviewed upgrades on tap for this summer.

Research is still being conducted on adding a refrigerated cooler for snacks and beverages that could be in place next month.

Also, water lines are on the brink of being reactivated to permit use of the wash-down station and water fountain.

While higher revenues are forthcoming in the spring and summer, Parsons said profits in March easily eclipsed the prior month.

“Tennis and pickleball definitely picked up from February,” he said. “We had a good number of platform and a great number of pickleball players.”