Officials and representatives from the Springfield Jewish Community Center gathered on July 9 to celebrate the ribbon cutting for eight new outdoor pickleball courts and a full-sized basketball court at the center.
Reminder Publishing photos by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — As part of its ongoing campaign to update its amenities, the Springfield Jewish Community Center recently opened eight new pickleball courts and a full-sized basketball court for JCC members and the general public.
Officially unveiled during a ribbon cutting celebration on July 9, the new courts are just one piece of the JCC’s “Be Our Best” capital campaign. Started in 2017, the initiative aims to raise $12 million for upgrades to the 70-year-old building at 1160 Dickinson St.
So far, the JCC has secured close to $7 million thanks to 100 donors, including a $1 million federal grant, according to Betsy Bertuzzi, the co-chair of the “Be Our Best” campaign.
“This facility ushers in a new era for the J in community socialization and fitness,” Bertuzzi said. “Because of the generosity of these first 100 donors … we’ll be cutting the ribbon on our beautiful [and] new-lighted eight pickleball courts and outdoor basketball court.”
The courts will be free for all through July 31, and then non-members will have to pay $5 per visit. Pickleball is included in JCC memberships, and people also have the option of joining a “competitively priced” pickleball membership of $30 a month.
According to the center’s website, four of the courts are available for reservations, while the other four are always available for open play. All eight of the outdoor courts are open from 6 a.m. to dusk.
The JCC’s website also states that the new courts are in addition to the three that already reside within the center’s gymnasium.
During her remarks on July 9, Bertuzzi said the pickleball courts are just the beginning for the JCC. Later this fall, “Be Our Best” campaign projects will continue with the transformation of the center’s old game room into a conference center, which will seat a total of 145 people and feature the ability to split into three separate rooms.
Meanwhile, the $1 million federal grant will help renovate the center’s game space classrooms, educational quarter and bathrooms leading into the auditorium.
Other renovations are down the road, Bertuzzi said, including the implementation of an ADA-accessible ramp in the community room, an ADA-accessible bathroom across the auditorium and updates to the lobby, café, auditorium, pool and kitchen.
“We are on the move,” said JCC CEO Karen Jarmoc, during the celebration. “I’m just really grateful to the Board [of Directors] in particular for having confidence in me and the team here to keep moving things forward and to support the tremendous foundation that’s already been established.”
Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Reps. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow) and Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) were in attendance on July 9 to celebrate the new courts and re-emphasize the strong community embedded within the JCC.
“To have a pickleball court at the JCC that is not just eight large court areas, but also something that’s very unique for this facility; having lights above you,” Oliveira said. “This is a community asset for the entire region.”
Readers are encouraged to visit the JCC’s website to learn more about its new courts and the “Be Our Best” campaign: tinyurl.com/nhenpyxt.
