Pickleball increases in popularity in small town

OGDENSBURG – A growing group of pickleball enthusiasts has been coming together at local pickle ball courts for some friendly competition and exercise.
St. Lawrence Memorial Park at 204 Spring Street in Ogdensburg, has seen an uptick of visitors with the addition and continued growth of the pickleball courts.
Four courts were built in 2023, with funding for only two nets, through additional fund raising efforts they were able to purchase the additional nets, as well as solar lighting for night time play.
With getting all four courts up and running, Erin Ferg, a member of the fund raising team for the park, said the courts have seen a lot more action.
Specifically, the courts have become especially busy on Saturday mornings where the courts have open play.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. pickleball enthusiasts from around the area come together to play the sport, and with the extra courts it is allowing for more players to play at a time.
There will be a tournament held Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Lawrence Memorial Park that will be double elimination.
The cost to join in the tournament is $15 per team and is 100 percent payout.
The teams can be one male and one female, or two females, with a cap of 16 teams for the tournament as a whole.
Players must be at least 18 years old.
The group has a Facebook page at Ogdensburg Pickleball for more information about joining in on Saturday mornings as well as information on the tournament.
“The pickle ball courts have really brought the park back to life, we have pickle ball paddles in the box by the courts along with a volleyball, and basketball for anyone who wants to play,” Ferg said. “It’s not unusual for there to be a few folks playing late mornings or evenings outside of the regular groups.”