NEWS!!!! The city is in the process of installing power outlets and lighting for the courts. Get ready for "under the lights" action!

We installed a storage box near the grill. It’s set into the cement with bolts. It will house:

- expendables like charcoal, lighter fluid (I don’t think it’s a safety issue, but your comments are welcome), matches.

- grill tools (need donations of these)

- a collapsable broom for the courts

- a blower should someone decide to donate one.

- whatever else will fit.

The lock combination is 0619. Right now there is one lock on the box, though it is machined for two. If I put a second one on, it will have the same combination. To me, the lock is a deterrent to theft by non-players. That said, there’s nothing stored in the box we need to overthink.

We are sharing the combination with racquetball players. If it’s determined they don’t contribute to the expendables, we’ll relinquish access.

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You may noticed the court walls are getting damage repaired and will be painted. I’m scheduling work to not conflict with our normal play times M-W-F 3:00 onward, and Sunday 9:00 - 1:00.

I am in contact with the City about maintenance of the floors. You may have noticed a deterioration in the front of the southeast court. I’ll keep you apprised.

Players inaugurated the new grill on Juneteenth. About 12 players and friends potlucked brats, noodle salad, burgers and libations. Thanks to Tony DiSantis for generously contributing cost for the grill, and Dale Chimenti who summoned his Italian heritage to pour the grill's foundation. Tile set by Stewart Shevin. Come and enjoy!

Maybe you’re cocooning or taking your chances in the wild outdoors. Hopefully restrictions on park use will be lifted soon in such a way that more peeps will find comfort on the courts. In the meantime, we are continuing with improvements at Palmer Park. 

- Your MHA funds at work…. We’ve contracted a painter to repair the walls that have had moister damage, then repaint the surface. First the south courts will be done, then the north. I will schedule so there will be as little downtime as possible. I will let folks know when painting starts.

- We should be taking delivery within the next two weeks for a barbecue grill. A Tony D. donation. It will get sunk into the ground at the southeast corner of the courts outside of the fenced area. My guess is that we will pour a 24” x 24”  pad underneath it. Anyone who is willing to help, or knows a handball player who is experienced in concrete please contact me.

- I had a thought of installing a gang box into the cement at the same time. ($260 including shipping) This would house charcoal, tools and such for the grill. It would have a lock to deter the squirrels. Check it out and let me know how you feel about this expense.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200664848_200664848

- The city is running power to the log cabin and the storage building next to the tennis courts. I have asked the GSD to run a conduit to the handball courts as well. Surprisingly, they did not laugh at me, but are actually considering doing it! This would be a 220 / 110 line that would terminate to a simple junction box with a receptacle for now. Enough power to run small equipment. Cross your fingers.

- The city is also planning on installing street lights in the park come November. I don’t know specifics.

- I encourage you to subscribe to the Palmer Park forum on the MHA website. You will automatically get notified of news and games at the courts. If you didn’t read my email and need help with that give a shout.

Ta, ta,

Stewart

Hey all, Thanks to a generous donation from Tony DeSantis, we will be installing a park-style barbecue grill at the south court area! So get ready for post game swankie-frankies, lentil burgers and other goodies. We are looking for donations. We will update you once it's ready to fire up.

Hi all,

Solar lights installed today in North (rear) courts. These along with surveillance "cameras" should dissuade the riff-raff. Taken at 9:30 this evening. Hey, is that a deer in the bushes? Anyway, the raincoat census is ongoing. Play on! ......

Dateline July 31 Palmer Park... The south court floors have been resurfaced and 10' fencing installed. They are ready for play. This gives us four playable courts at Palmer Park. Sport benches donated, living at the rear of the courts. Go. Play. Enjoy!

We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived yesterday, the 6th to find a crew installing the vertical posts for the new fencing for the south courts! The 1-3/4" black vinyl-clad mesh is being installed this coming week, as it had to be special ordered. The back height is 10' and the side returns are 8'.

 

Friday fun….

Good news. I inspected the wall caps yesterday and they are in surprisingly good shape. 

- Wall caps. We will need to caulk (I have) some seams on the north courts, and apply some Drylok sealer (I have) for good measure.

- Walls. I picked up a gallon of the current wall paint to touch up some areas near the floors. They will need to be scrubbed first. 

- We will be raising the height of the fence on the north courts by 3 feet on Friday. Bob and I will coordinate whether he has the material or it will be a purchase. It will only take 20 minutes to install. Once the south court fence is installed, we will repurpose the 7’ T posts as a second tier of fence on the north side.

To bring on Friday if you have it on hand: putty knifes & scrubbing brushes to prep / clean walls, paint brushes (2” or greater), 9” roller, buckets to hold cleaning water, rags, etc. 

I will bring a few thick nap roller covers. I have a 6’ ladder, but if someone else has one, that would be great. If anyone has a post hold digger, let me know.

We brought a 20’ extension ladder and two 10 gallon containers of water to the courts yesterday. They are being stored in the building next to the tennis courts.

Rain is predicted on Friday afternoon. If so, we will reschedule.....

Stewart

Hi all,

Yesterday we inaugurated the refurbished north courts. They played really well! This is even though there are some small divots (“pops” in concrete terms) which the city is addressing with their contractors. 

Speaking of contractors, I was RSVP’ed last night by Jeff Klein who is our contact at the GSD of Detroit. They are talking with the floor refurbishers before they do the south courts, to make better of the north divot situation, and doing the correct wok on the south. I will post an update on that when it’s scheduled.