By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
Snowbirds rejoice: The Lysander parks and recreation department is teaming up with CNY Pickleball to host Central New York’s first outdoor pickleball tournament Saturday, Sept. 17.
“It’s tennis meets table tennis, played with a Wiffle ball,” explained Recreation Supervisor Tony Burkinshaw.
Pickleball, which originated in Seattle in 1965, is played on a badminton-sized court with a lower net and a wooden paddle. The sport is growing in popularity, especially among retirees, according to Burkinshaw.
“When all the snowbirds go down [to Florida] they play it,” Burkinshaw said. “They brought it back north.”
If you would like to brush up your skills or even try pickleball for the first time, Lysander parks and rec is hosting a free pickleball clinic at 8 a.m. Sept. 14 in courts one and two at Lysander Town Park.
Admission for the tournament is $20 per player. If you register by Sept. 9 you will receive a tournament T-shirt. Mixed doubles teams will be divided among three age divisions: under 59, 60 to 69 and 70-plus.
Check-in for the Lysander Pickleball Tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at Lysander Town Park, located at 8439 Smokey Hollow Road in Baldwinsville. Games will start at 9 a.m. in a round-robin fashion. Teams will have multiple opportunities to play. The rain date is Sept. 18.
To find pickleball-playing opportunities around Central New York, visit cnypickleball.com.
Window painting
Lysander Parks and Rec is taking over the Baldwinsville Optimist Club’s annual Halloween window painting. Children in the Baldwinsville Central School District should receive applications from their homeroom teachers by Sept. 22.
The locations are still being finalized, but window painting will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 22, rain or shine. Contact the parks department for more information.
‘Paint a Pumpkin’
Families who have been filling up in their Family Fun Passport all summer have one last chance to get a stamp at the “Paint a Pumpkin” activity.
Painters will gather in the small pavilion at Lysander Town Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Admission is $5 per painter, $8 for two painters and $2 for each additional painter.
To register for these programs, contact Lysander parks and rec at 635-5999 or [email protected]. The Lysander parks and recreation department is located at Lysander Town Hall, 8220 Loop Road, Baldwinsville. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about current and upcoming programs, visit townoflysander.org/departments/parks-and-recreation or like “Town of Lysander Parks and Recreation” on Facebook.
