By Donald Wittkowski
It is played with paddles and a small ball, but it's not ping-pong. A net is used, but it's not tennis. The playing surface is about the size of a badminton court, but it's not that sport, either.
It's called pickleball, a fast-growing sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
After years of discussion and searching, it looks like Ocean City's pickleball players will finally be getting their first permanent outdoor courts.
Michael Allegretto, the city's director of community services, has recommended turning some little-used tennis courts on 18th Street next to the Ocean City Intermediate School into the new home for pickleball.
In a report to City Council at Thursday's meeting, Allegretto proposed a compromise intended to please both the tennis and pickleball communities. The 18th Street courts would accommodate both tennis and pickleball, he announced.
Allegretto recommended taking the six existing turf-covered tennis courts at 18th Street and resurfacing them with asphalt. He said the turf surface has become slippery and hard to maintain.
Three of the courts will remain exclusively for tennis players. The other three courts would be configured for both tennis and pickleball games, Allegretto said.
Mike Hepner, a pickleball representative, was happy with Allegretto's proposal. He said 18th Street would be a good site for pickleball players because it is centrally located.
However, Terry McKenna, a representative of the tennis community, expressed disappointment with Allegretto's plan.
"In a nutshell, the tennis people don't want to lose any more courts," McKenna said in remarks to Council.
He called for the formation of a committee of tennis and pickleball representatives to study Allegretto's proposal and come up with its own recommendations.
Rules for pickleball courts would also have to be posted if the project is given funding approval by City Council.
"Pickleball and turf tennis can co-exist in town," McKenna said.
Allegretto pledged to meet with both sides to discuss his plan in more detail. He said he wants to make sure it would be the "right compromise."
Last December, the city abandoned plans to convert a public parking lot at Shelter Road and Tennessee Avenue into new pickleball courts. At that time, Mayor Jay Gillian directed Allegretto to study possible new locations for pickleball in hopes of "finally putting it all to rest."
Allegretto will return to City Council to seek its endorsement and funding approval for the pickleball project at 18th Street. Allegretto said the cost will depend on the final designs.
