A pair of proposed projects could transform Cherry Hill West’s tennis courts into a first-class facility and give area pickleball enthusiasts a new place to play.
Cherry Hill Township council approved a series of applications for Camden County Open Space grants during last week’s meeting. One grant would be used to help fund improvements to the Locustwood Park tennis facility, the home court for Cherry Hill West’s tennis teams. The other would help fund the installation of a pickleball court at Lions Den Park.
The improvements to the Locustwood Park tennis courts would benefit both the township residents and the school district. Township director of communications Bridget Palmer said the township is planning to put in four newly paved tennis courts at the site. According to the proposal, the school district would install a fifth court. New fencing would also be installed at the facility.
The proposed project would resolve safety concerns residents have brought to the school district and the township in past. In addition, the project would expand the space at the facility, making it compliant with United States Tennis Association regulations.
“It will allow the high school to host tournaments there,” Palmer said.
Another proposed project will help placate pickleball fans The township has applied for a $25,000 grant to install a pickleball court at Lions Den Park located near New Year Avenue. It would be the first public, outdoor pickleball court in the township.
Palmer said there has been a growing interest in pickleball in Cherry Hill, especially among senior residents. Pickleball is a hybrid racquet sport played on a badminton style court. The rules of pickleball are a combination of tennis and ping pong.
The pickleball courts will be installed on an old, underutilized basketball court.
“We’ve received some complaints that the basketball court was in disarray,” Palmer said.
The township plans to install three pickleball courts on the old basketball court site later this year.
Two other open space grants would help Cherry Hill American and National Little Leagues. The township applied for $25,000 grants in conjunction with each Little League for general field improvements.
With the township being limited to four open space grant applications each year, officials work with the Little Leagues and see where improvements can be made at their facilities.
“We try our best to coordinate with our Little Leagues and support them,” Palmer said.
Road maintenance begins for 2015
With winter winding down, Cherry Hill Township has restarted its road maintenance program.
Palmer said the township will be finishing projects left over from 2014 first before beginning projects slated for 2015.
This year, the township has invested $2.6 million into its road maintenance program. This is on top of any grant money the township receives.
The largest of these jobs will be the second phase of the Old Orchard Road reconstruction. Later this year, crews will continue the complete reconstruction of the road from Highgate Lane to Evans Lane. The Old Orchard reconstruction project is a multi-year effort. The township has received help from the state Department of Transportation in the form of grant money. The money has been used to help offset the cost of the first two phases of the project. Earlier this year, the township applied for grant money again for phase three.
