New snow: To clear or not to clear?
Ice turned into slush today around noon, allowing for removal.
Not to clear. Is that clear?
No one should be clearing or walking on new snow at Marshdale. That’s the word from Monte Poague, our club’s facilities and maintenance director.
President Bob Kerr’s take is that we can’t allow unsupervised snow removal or we run the risk of court damage and closure of the courts.
Anyone remember the holes punched in the old courts by what appeared to be a rototiller to some but was likely a snowblower?
“If someone goes rogue and brings their own unapproved equipment, EPRD will just lock the gates for the winter,” Monte said. “The EPC board has to follow EPRD’s instructions on clearing the new courts and they’re pretty rigid on what we can do.
“Shovels are out and brooms, roller mops and squeegees are our only approved implements.. Mother Nature has to do all the heavy lifting and we can come in at the end to speed up removal of water and slush.”
Monte and First Lady Debbie Kerr were squeegee-ing slush and water off the courts this afternoon while eight people played on the two dry courts at the east end.
Monte predicts about four courts will be playable tomorrow, although there is still runoff that will freeze overnight. Take that into account when deciding what time to play—maybe noon rather than 9:30 unless you’re a football junkie like some Leanors we know.
EPRD is not currently locking the courts for minor snowfalls, but let’s wait for Monte to call for a work party to enter the courts after such an event. “I will try to wake up some of the Snow Angels to make channels in new snow and to finish up clearing the slush/water after a few days of sun, probably in late afternoon to take advantage of that day’s melting,” Monte said. “This is for light snowfalls (less than 4 inches). Big snowfalls, we’re screwed and will just have to play indoors.”
Or in the flatlands, where court complexes like Clement Park were free of snow and ice this week. Maybe better yet, enjoy a free session at the new Meadow Creek indoor pickleball courts at Sixth and Sheridan (more about that offer below). We need the new indoor courts at Buchanan to relieve the wintertime pressure on Wulf, because we still play at 7,000 feet in the Rockies.
The roller mops are out and on the fences for anyone to use to pick up/spread water on courts after major melting has occurred. “We want to keep the other tools in the locked shed for security reasons and the fewer people who know the combo the better,” Monte said.
Monte and First Lady Kerr operate the squeegees. First Guy Kerr was magnanimously providing a fourth for the group on court 8.
Today is the shortest day of the year, but the sun was doing its best to help clear the courts.
If it’s dry-adjacent, they will play.
It is expected the shed will be relocated in the spring to a pad at the southeast corner of the courts. It is presently providing an unwelcome sun block.
Holiday schedules posted for Wulf
Two separate schedules for Dec. 23-29 and Dec. 30-Jan 5 have been posted on the EPRD Upcoming and Holiday Schedules page. Please note that EPRD Camp will be using the west half on various days—check the yellow-highlighted footnotes before you head to the gym.
Wulf will be closed on Christmas Day, but we can ring in the new year with pickleball from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 1.
More classes and mixers for all levels have been added to the Wulf gym schedule in January, February and March. “One of the main benefits to the mixers is the reduced wait time due to the limited number of players,” EPRD recreation supervisor Jeff Sweet said. Registration for the events is open now.
There is room for two more two-person teams to register for the Icebreaker 2025 Pickleball Tournament at Wulf gym on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 8:30 a.m. The tournament is for Advanced/Upper Intermediate players. Cost is $40 per team, with a three-game guarantee.
Try out Meadow Creek Pickleball free
Bob Kerr would like to see EPC members take advantage of an offer from Meadow Creek Pickleball to play up to two hours on their two new courts at Sixth and Sheridan. “The courts have a unique surface on them that provides a cushioned surface that is very friendly to the body,” Bob said. “I would appreciate all the feedback we can get as to whether or not that surface is something we might want to incorporate into the new courts at Buchanan.”
According to Bob, he and three other old guys walked off the courts pain-free, which they weren’t before they started.
Next EPC board meeting is Jan. 7
The first 2025 meeting of the EPC board will feature the scheduling of tournaments and social events for the year. It will be held at Evergreen Library from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. We already know Men’s Doubles will be back on the schedule and the Spring Fling party will be back.!
As always, EPC members are welcome at the board meeting. We appreciate your input there and everywhere. Really, we do.