Island Park residents now have a new place to stay active and enjoy the outdoors with the opening of two brand new pickleball courts at Masone Beach.
The courts officially opened last month as part of a series of improvements aimed at expanding recreational opportunities in the Village. The project also included paving the surrounding area and installing a new basketball hoop for residents to enjoy.
Mayor Michael McGinty and the Village Board recently welcomed State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assemblyman Ari Brown to Masone Beach to view the completed upgrades and thank them for helping secure funding for the project.
The Village expressed its appreciation to both lawmakers for their efforts in obtaining state funding to make the improvements possible.
“We’re excited to have completed several improvements at Masone Beach, including the installation of two brand-new pickleball courts, paving of the surrounding area and a new basketball hoop,” McGinty said. “These upgrades provide more recreational opportunities for residents of all ages and continue to make Masone Beach an even better community destination.”
McGinty said adding pickleball courts was a priority because of the sport’s growing popularity among people of all ages and skill levels.
“Pickleball has grown tremendously in popularity over the last several years, and we wanted to provide residents with a dedicated place to enjoy the sport,” he said. “Masone Beach is one of our premier recreational spaces, so it was the perfect location to expand the amenities available to the community.”
The project was made possible through state funding secured with the support of Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Brown. McGinty said pursuing outside funding opportunities allows the village to continue making improvements while limiting the financial impact on taxpayers.
“Every grant we secure helps us invest in our community while reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers,” he said. “Our Village Board is committed to aggressively pursuing every grant and funding opportunity available so we can continue making meaningful improvements without relying solely on local tax dollars.”
McGinty said pickleball has become a popular amenity in communities across Long Island because it encourages residents to remain active while bringing neighbors together.
“It’s a sport that appeals to people of all ages and skill levels,” he said. “It’s easy to learn, encourages people to stay active and brings neighbors together.”
Residents can currently reserve court time through the Village’s online reservation system. McGinty said the village will continue to evaluate interest and may consider offering organized programs, leagues or instructional clinics in the future.
Since the courts opened, McGinty said the response from residents has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s great to see residents already taking advantage of the new courts and enjoying the improvements,” he said. “That’s exactly why we continue investing in projects like these — to provide amenities that our community will use and appreciate for years to come.”
The new pickleball courts are part of the Village’s ongoing efforts to enhance public spaces and improve quality-of-life amenities for Island Park residents.
“We want Masone Beach to be a place where families, friends and neighbors can gather, stay active and enjoy everything our community has to offer,” McGinty said.
