Town, Village of Lewiston looking to pair on pickleball courts

Village of Lewiston adopts budget

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

New pickleball courts could be in place at Richard F. Soluri Park as soon as this summer.

Youngstown resident and professional engineer John B. Battaglia presented a proposal to the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees to add four pickleball courts, and perhaps a pavilion, to the plateau spoils area between the dog park and the bird habitat. He was joined by Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick in presenting the pitch.

“Recently, a group of us, in the last four or five years, has been playing pickleball – it seems to be the sport of our age,” Battaglia said at Monday’s work session. “A group of about 12 or 16 of us have been going around and finding places to play. Over a period of time, we’ve been playing at Kiwanis Park; we’ve been playing at the Senior Center parking lot – that’s worked out somewhat for us.”

He shared this information with Trustee Tina Coppins, whom he said recommended connecting with the Town of Lewiston “to put together a project.”

Battaglia spoke with Broderick and Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch prior to his presentation.

“It’s great that we’ve got a group of people that are trying to put something together that I think a lot of us will enjoy,” Battaglia said.

The courts would be built on either a paved asphalt or reinforced concrete surface. Three of the recreation area’s sides would be bordered by a fence, while a wind-breaking wall would be on the fourth side. About 8,000 square feet would be utilized. Other amenities could include solar lighting, additional parking spaces, and a 50-by-50- or 40-by-40-feet pavilion previously considered by the municipality for the waterfront.

Broderick said a bathroom is not part of the proposal, as a sewer connection is untenable.

Battaglia said he is in contact with Lewiston-Porter Youth Football & Cheer about the recreation area, as that group has used the larger portion of the field.

Broderick said, “The town has been looking for pickleball locations for a couple of years now. The one problem with pickleball, if you Google it, is the noise. So, you really don't want to put it in a neighborhood park because you’d get a lot of complaints about the noise. That ruled out more courts at Kiwanis (Park) or even down at Pletcher Road.

“Up here by where the dog park is was a perfect location, because you’re not going to have any disturbance from neighbors or anything. You can have courts there; light it; you’re not going to bother anybody. It was a perfect spot for it.

“Obviously, it’s controlled by the village; it would be a village decision. It would be a town Greenway project. We are probably going to tie it in with a two-court pickleball court at Lewiston No. 2 firehall. So, it will be one Greenway presentation for this – and including a pavilion – and a two-court pickleball court at Lewiston No. 2 firehall.”

Broderick did not have a firm project cost in hand, but speculated the project could cost upward of $400,000 to $500,000 – to be funded through the Niagara River Greenway.

He noted, “John, being an engineer, is saving us engineering costs. In-kind services – that’s huge,” with work that could be completed by Town and Village of Lewiston laborers at the site.

“It’s something that we would love to do,” Broderick said. “We’d love to combine with the village and provide it.”

The pickleball courts would be open to the public.

Trustees voted to endorse the town’s Greenway application.

“I think this is going to be a great addition up there,” Welch said. “It’s really nice.”

Second District Niagara County Legislator Michael Casale hands an America 250 flag to Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch.

••••••••

America 250

Second District Niagara County Legislator Michael Casale presented the Village Board with an America 250 flag.

“This will be the Village of Lewiston’s flag to fly proudly on the flagpole,” he said. “The Niagara County Legislature, back in 2023, created the America 250 committee. They’ve been working really, really hard to put together a list of recognition-type events to commemorate our 250^th birthday – which is going to be happening on July the Fourth. This flag represents that birthday, the 250^th year.”

He noted, “Every municipal town hall, city hall, village hall, will be flying these flags.”

Casale also gifted each trustee with a commemorative America 250 coin.

The national America 250 campaign is described as a nonpartisan effort celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, culminating July 4, 2026.

Budget approved

The Village Board adopted the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, in the total amount of $5,304,407; authorized the levy of real property taxes for the tax warrant, directing the clerk to receive and collect taxes in the amount of $1,388,612.49; a re-levy of water and sewer charges in the amount of $32,758.73, for a total warrant to collect $1,421,371.22; and to establish the tax rate at $8.594858 per $1,000 of assessed value.

No residents offered comments during a public hearing held prior to the vote.

See more budget details online at www.wnypapers.com.

Mark your calendars

Trustees approved more spring and summer events, including requests from:

•The Lewiston Garden Club to stage its annual perennial plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Academy Park pavilion.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Down River Post 7487 to hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Academy Park.

•YMCA Buffalo Niagara to offer yoga classes from 10-11 a.m. Sundays, June 7, through Aug. 30, at Academy Park.

•Catching Dreams Charters to oversee a fishing tournament fundraiser from 7 a.m. to noon Aug. 7 at Lewiston Landing Park.

•Loren Tonemah to host a Native American music and arts event from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Hennepin Park.