By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(July 31, 2025) The Ocean Pines Association continues to prioritize maintenance efforts to ensure the neighborhood remains operational and aesthetically pleasing, officials reported this week.

At the OPA Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, July 26, John Viola, the community’s general manager, updated residents on the association’s upcoming and ongoing maintenance efforts. According to Viola, many of these initiatives have taken place at Ocean Pines’ racquet center.

An updated clubhouse was recently erected at OPA’s racquet center, and Viola said that while construction was taking place, one of the site’s water fountains was damaged. A new touchless fountain was installed to replace the one that was lost during the construction of the enhanced building. Before and while the drinking amenity was being assembled, the general manager stated that water bottles would be available to racquet sport players at no charge during heat alerts.

Lighting was also recently implemented at some of the tennis and pickleball courts.

“That is big because now [the players] have the other new courts where they can play at nighttime,” Viola said. “That’s a big win for everybody.”

Viola added that a slat board was installed inside the racquet center’s new building with the hope of increasing paddle sales. The general manager said that racquet members told him and his team that enhancing the clubhouse’s presentation, like a slat board to display merchandise, would stimulate additional purchases. Viola said that while the “numbers aren’t showing it yet,” he’s hopeful transactions at the center will pick up soon.

To maintain the racquet area’s beauty, landscaping occurred within the past few weeks, in the form of mulching, trimming, and disposing of weeds.

“I did get several emails on [landscaping],” Viola said. “With the weather and the change of the weather and the [rain], weeds popped up and we needed to catch them, which I believe we did.”

To ensure the racquet center’s safety, the courts were reevaluated, and upon receiving a positive inspection report, they have been reopened for play. A few cracks on the pickleball courts are also scheduled to be filled in sometime in August. Viola said the repair work is expected to take around five to seven days to complete.

In addition to the work at the racquet center, maintenance efforts have popped up throughout the community. The Bay Colony sign was painted, and the structure’s lighting is scheduled to be replaced at the end of August. The new illumination will match the style found at the community’s bridge at the North Gate entrance, Viola said.

The North Gate bridge will also undergo improvements. On July 10, a car hit the bridge, impacting the railing and the flower box. The garden and the railing are scheduled for repairs sometime this week. OPA’s Public Works team will spearhead the work. The bridge will be closed, likely at night, for the repairs to be made.

“It’s unfortunate, but we do have it on the list and hopefully we get it corrected quickly,” Viola said.