Two playgrounds refurbished in Intercourse

"There were a lot of local residents who were excited about adding pickleball courts to the park," said Leacock Township board member Mike Sensenig. Township board members responded to requests for pickleball facilities by building two courts in the Intercourse Community Park, 3730 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville. The courts were officially opened for demonstrations and play during Heritage Days, which were held June 16 and 17. "We ended up using funds from Heritage Days to pay for it," noted Sensenig. "The funds from (that event) are primarily used for the park." A pickleball tournament is being considered as a planned activity during the 2024 Heritage Days.

Construction started in the winter of 2023 with Leacock Township employees preparing the site, which is adjacent to the Old Philadelphia Pike park entrance. "The excavation and putting the stones in (was completed)," said Sensenig. "Then a contractor came in to do the painting and build the fence."

"We did all the groundwork and got it leveled," said Frank Howe, secretary and treasurer for Leacock Township, "but to get a perfectly level court so there are no puddles when it rains, we got professionals to take care of that." Howe noted that Lancaster Asphalt Systems, Inc., the company that completed the work, builds pickleball courts internationally.

Pickleball is a sport that combines tennis, badminton, and pingpong. It can be played inside or outside on a court the same size as a badminton court with a modified tennis net. Equipment includes a paddle and a plastic ball with holes in it. Played by singles or doubles, the sport is known for appealing to people of all ages and skill levels. The sport was invented in the 1960s by Joel Pritchard, a Congressman from Washington state, and Bill Bell, a businessman, who improvised and started playing with pingpong paddles and a perforated plastic ball.

The courts have a few rules, including requiring proper footwear and taking turns. Players are limited to finishing their current game if someone is waiting. "There's hardly been a day I haven't seen someone playing. It has been received very well," said Sensenig, who noted that pickleball games progress more quickly than tennis. Courts are open from dawn to dusk.

Juanita Petersheim said she plays at the courts each Thursday with friends. She noted that she would love to see more courts in the area.

In addition to the new courts, the playground at Community Park was refurbished in 2022. Changes included new playground equipment and foundation. "We put in a soft, rubber (surface)," said Sensenig. "We removed the mulch that was dirty and hard to maintain." Similar upgrades were made to Civic Park, located behind the Intercourse Fire Company, 10 N. Hollander Road, Gordonville, in 2023. "The playground there has new equipment and a new surface," said Sensenig, who noted that the area is often utilized by families attending softball games on the field in that park. Howe said that changes at both playgrounds were covered by Recovery Act funds.

More information about Leacock Township may be found at http://www.leacocktwp.com.