Monday, May 31, 2004
Artifact of Paddle's 75 Year Heritage
This postcard of some folks playing paddle in Connecticut appeared on eBay recently.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Information about Platform Tennis
Welcome to my "blog" about platform tennis (a.k.a. "Paddle") in Hinsdale, Illinois. If you noticed the ad below in The Doings, perhaps you are interested in learning more about the sport. If that's the case, please explore the archives of this blog for some background. Please contact paulwiggin@yahoo.com with questions.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Platform Tennis Magazine Beautifies Its Cover
Though you may not recognize the format of the Platform Tennis Magazine this month, you will undoubtedly recognize one or a few of the National Champs featured on its cover.
Congrats again to Mary Doten and Susie Keane!
Congrats again to Mary Doten and Susie Keane!
Local Newspapers Recap May 4 Village Board Approvals
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Well-Deserved Appreciation
We would like to offer thanks to everyone who gathered petitions, attended Village meetings, or made a pledge. This wonderful outcome wouldn't have happened without your help.
We all owe gratitude to the Keller family for creating a paddle program in Hinsdale, Bill O'Brien for his dedication in developing the hundreds of players active in paddle, and Charlie Usher for his vision for where the Hinsdale paddle community ought to be going.
A special thanks to Jim Prisby and Vince Caprio, the architects who donated their time to designing the new facilities and helped us keep the project on track for opening next fall.
The volunteers on the Parks Commission and Village staff deserve credit for moving this project along so quickly. Commission Chairman Paul Sigfusson has guided our plans through the difficult terrain of local government. Andy Stephens and Keith Medick did double-duty as members of both the Parks Commission and the KLM task force. Bob Kotula has been a supporter throughout the process and will no doubt be instrumental in completing the construction phase. We are blessed to have so many capable people supporting our sport.
Now we can all look forward to the end of summer and the beginning of the 2004-05 paddle season. Congratulations and see you soon at KLM.
We would like to offer thanks to everyone who gathered petitions, attended Village meetings, or made a pledge. This wonderful outcome wouldn't have happened without your help.
We all owe gratitude to the Keller family for creating a paddle program in Hinsdale, Bill O'Brien for his dedication in developing the hundreds of players active in paddle, and Charlie Usher for his vision for where the Hinsdale paddle community ought to be going.
A special thanks to Jim Prisby and Vince Caprio, the architects who donated their time to designing the new facilities and helped us keep the project on track for opening next fall.
The volunteers on the Parks Commission and Village staff deserve credit for moving this project along so quickly. Commission Chairman Paul Sigfusson has guided our plans through the difficult terrain of local government. Andy Stephens and Keith Medick did double-duty as members of both the Parks Commission and the KLM task force. Bob Kotula has been a supporter throughout the process and will no doubt be instrumental in completing the construction phase. We are blessed to have so many capable people supporting our sport.
Now we can all look forward to the end of summer and the beginning of the 2004-05 paddle season. Congratulations and see you soon at KLM.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
The Final Step: Village Board Awards Bids during their May 4 Meeting
By unanimous vote, the Hinsdale Village Board awarded the bids for courts and the warming hut at Katherine Legge Memorial Park.
By a 5-1 vote, the Board also accepted the task force's recommendation to give major donors a "lifetime membership" to the platform tennis facilities.
Next steps: On to construction!
By unanimous vote, the Hinsdale Village Board awarded the bids for courts and the warming hut at Katherine Legge Memorial Park.
By a 5-1 vote, the Board also accepted the task force's recommendation to give major donors a "lifetime membership" to the platform tennis facilities.
Next steps: On to construction!
Monday, May 03, 2004
Step 1 of 2 Completed on May 3 for Awarding the Bids for the KLM Paddle Facility
By a unanimous 2-0 vote at the Administration and Community Affairs meeting, two bids were awarded on May 3 for the KLM Paddle Facility. The May 4 Village Board meeting begins at 7:30 PM. Please turn up to show your support for the project. This will be the moment we've dreamed about -- the "finals" for bringing six publicly-owned paddle courts to Hinsdale.
If all goes well, the celebration for this final step in the process at Memorial Hall will begin at the York Tavern just after 9 PM!
By a unanimous 2-0 vote at the Administration and Community Affairs meeting, two bids were awarded on May 3 for the KLM Paddle Facility. The May 4 Village Board meeting begins at 7:30 PM. Please turn up to show your support for the project. This will be the moment we've dreamed about -- the "finals" for bringing six publicly-owned paddle courts to Hinsdale.
If all goes well, the celebration for this final step in the process at Memorial Hall will begin at the York Tavern just after 9 PM!
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Village of Hinsdale Considers Bids for KLM Paddle Facility on May 3 and 4
On Monday evening at 7:30, the Administration and Community Affairs will hear a recommendation from the Parks staff to award bids for the KLM facility. We are hoping to see many players in attendance at this meeting. If all goes well, the process will be completed at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, which also begins at 7:30 PM.
Parks & Recreation Department manager, Bob Kotula, received seven bids on Thursday afternoon for the KLM Paddle Facility. Six local contracters bid on the warming hut and deck. Only one of the three court manufacturers -- Reilly Green Mountain -- ended up bidding. The others considered the travel requirements of coming to Illionoi and the terms required by the Village to be negative factors about the project.
The combination of the low bids come within .5% of our budget. Bids of $270,500 for the hut and $189,590 for 3 new courts and the rehab of a 4th pre-owned court will bring the total project cost to $460,090. The Village's budget of $347,218 plus the $115,750 of cash pledges by families and local businesses total $462,968. That leaves a small surplus of $2,878 for whatever contingencies arise.
We are thrilled to see the project moving along at a pace that will mean the new facility will be ready for the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
On Monday evening at 7:30, the Administration and Community Affairs will hear a recommendation from the Parks staff to award bids for the KLM facility. We are hoping to see many players in attendance at this meeting. If all goes well, the process will be completed at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, which also begins at 7:30 PM.
Parks & Recreation Department manager, Bob Kotula, received seven bids on Thursday afternoon for the KLM Paddle Facility. Six local contracters bid on the warming hut and deck. Only one of the three court manufacturers -- Reilly Green Mountain -- ended up bidding. The others considered the travel requirements of coming to Illionoi and the terms required by the Village to be negative factors about the project.
The combination of the low bids come within .5% of our budget. Bids of $270,500 for the hut and $189,590 for 3 new courts and the rehab of a 4th pre-owned court will bring the total project cost to $460,090. The Village's budget of $347,218 plus the $115,750 of cash pledges by families and local businesses total $462,968. That leaves a small surplus of $2,878 for whatever contingencies arise.
We are thrilled to see the project moving along at a pace that will mean the new facility will be ready for the beginning of the 2004-05 season.
