Players say the current courts could use a revamp and the extra room is a welcome addition. Forum Newsgroup photo by Jeremiah Dobruck.
After years of waiting, bocce players at Juniper Valley Park are about to get a little shade and a little more room.
Soon, the Department of Parks and Recreation hopes to start construction on an expansion of the bocce courts at the Middle Village park where players gather constantly.
The $850,000 renovation includes the reconstruction of the existing bocce courts, the construction of a third court, the construction of shade structures covering all three courts and the planting of additional trees.
The Parks Department sent out a request for bids in the middle of July and anticipate to start con- struction in the fall.
On Monday, the courts were crowded at 4 p.m. with seniors tossing the heavy balls trying to land close enough to the target to score a point or knock someone else out of contention.
Dan Wernicki, who lives near the park and calls himself the “youngest of the bunch,” said he’s out at the park to play almost every day.
“It’s a great game,” he said. “All you think about is that little ball.”
The courts get heavy use with groups of people rotating in and out all day.
Wernicki said he’s come to the park to play at 11 a.m. and already met a packed court.
“The planned bocce courts will be another great addition to Juniper Park. I’m thrilled for the local bocce players, who will be able to play on a new court with an awning that enables the sport in all kinds of weather,” said Coun- cilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who represents the area. “The players and the court are an asset to the park.”
Crowley contributed $50,000 to the renovations. The additional $800,000 came from Queens Bor- ough President Helen Marshall.
Wernicki and other players said the renovations were a longtime coming, and they were surprised it would take more than three quarters of a million dollars to complete them.
But, Wernicki said the shade structures are sorely needed and pointed out the adjacent court languishing unused in the direct sunlight.
“This keeps these guys alive,” he said.
No matter what, they’ll get plenty of use with the bocce diehards talking trash and making their throws every day.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
