Michigan Handball Association Palmer Park updates

Power & Lighting

Stewart Shevin — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 00:15:33 GMT

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

New Storage Box

Stewart Shevin — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:44:13 GMT

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.

NEW BARBECUE GRILL!

Stewart Shevin — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 19:48:31 GMT

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!

Palmer Park news June 2, 2020

Stewart Shevin — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 01:41:26 GMT

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

BARBEQUE GRILL

Stewart Shevin — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 22:46:09 GMT

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.

solar lights installed

Stewart Shevin — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 03:19:22 GMT

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! ......

Four Courts finished at PP.

Stewart Shevin — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 13:49:52 GMT

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!

Palmer Park fencing being installed

Stewart Shevin — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 16:15:01 GMT

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'.

Palmer Park Friday, July 5 cleanup date set

Stewart Shevin — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 17:51:57 GMT

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

North Courts resurfaced!

Stewart Shevin — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:48:01 GMT

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.

court resurfacing partially completed

Stewart Shevin — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 17:59:10 GMT

Hey all,

Peter Werbe and I met with Farhat Chaudrey (engineer) and Jeff Klein (Deputy Chief of Landscape Architecture) at the courts yesterday. We accessed the north court surface work done by their vendor.

First, the work was contracted to be done on the south courts. They mistakenly resurfaced the north (wrong) side. The good news is that the city is having the contractor fix the south courts as it was their mistake.

We were all in agreement that although the courts look great, the vendor did not prep the cement as expected. Specifically, grinding down and pouring a suitable self-leveling epoxy before the application of the slip-resistant surface paint. The crack and pop filling was less that appropriate.

The upshot is that Jeff will meet with vendor to discuss making better of the north courts and approaching the south courts (to make right) in a suitable manner. He is telling them the court surfaces need to be ground down and filled properly. They will haggle over money and whatever I’m sure. Jeff will get back to me with the results of that meeting. I will update you once I hear back.

As soon as the south courts are resurfaced, cyclone fencing will be installed around the south courts.

Once the fence install starts, we will repurpose the mesh from the south to make the north court fencing higher (total 10’). It was suggested to install a second shorter fence a few feet past the first to keep more balls from heading into the woods. We can repurpose the south T-posts for that.

Other notes:

We plan to clean and apply a sealant to the stepped wall caps. This will remedy vegetation growth on those wall tops. We’ve also noticed seepage coming through and down the side of the walls at a few points. This deteriorates the walls themselves, and has caused new paint at the base to peal in a few spots.

We’ll touch up the wall paint after repairs.

Stewart

Court resurfacing to begin!

Stewart Shevin — Thu, 30 May 2019 16:23:55 GMT

The MHA was given an update today from the General Services Division (GSD) of the City of Detroit.

Work is scheduled to begin today for renovations of the two south courts. Resurfacing: This will include grinding down and crack-filling the existing surface. Then a non-skid epoxy coating with gray colorant is applied. After that, 1-1/2" red service and out lines will be painted.

Installation of back and side fencing will also begin. This will be black vinyl-clad steel cyclone, 1-3/4" mesh. The 10' high backstop fencing will run the 70' span. Side fencing to create a U shape will be 8' high.

Weather-permitting, this work should take two weeks. The two north courts will remain available for play during that time.

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The GSD was renamed from the more familiar Parks & Recreation Department of years past. The GSD manages construction and maintenance which includes the city's parks.

Spring at the courts

Stewart Shevin — Tue, 21 May 2019 13:38:01 GMT

Hi all,

Courts are ready for play! Nick Morang, Peter Werbe and Stewart Shevin cleaned the courts and shored up the temporary fencing on Saturday, the 18th. There are leaves built up at the base of the fences. We'll clear those out at our next opportunity.

We will be given a key to the storage building next to the tennis courts (tennis courts are currently under construction). How that key will accessed is being figured out.

We have yet to hear back from the city as to when court floors and fencing will be installed on the south courts.

I suggest bringing a broom or better yet leaf blower when you come. There are usually a few leaves resting in the courts.

Courts status spring 2019

Stewart Shevin — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:10:33 GMT

The City of Detroit was very impressed with the money and work the MHA members and friends put into the courts last year. As a direct result of that effort, the General Services Division (formerly Parks and Rec) has come up with funds to resurface the two south court playing areas ( 2 x 22' x 44’), and install an 8’ cyclone fence with black vinyl coating around the south courts. The city has specked a MasterSeal product for application to the court surface. They have assured me that we will be happy with the result. We are waiting to hear as to when that work will start.

As that back two courts are in good shape, this will leave us with four playable courts!

The court resurfacing we did to court #2 last year allowed immediate play. That work was guaranteed for 3 years. Admittedly it proved to be less that satisfactory. Given the city’s readiness to redo that court, we will take it as an investment and lesson learned.

For 2019 we are checking into -

- Painting the ceiling grid the same color as the walls.

- Install a door on the brick storage shed close to the courts. This could keep maintenance items and other goodies for ready access.

- Beautification to the court area (low height shrubs and annuals)

- Raising $$ for solar lighting (about 380 per unit). This is to allow for evening play and contribute to safety.