Community Support Fuels the Revamp
The Greenport Village Board has given the green light to a $25,000 privately funded upgrade of the Third Street basketball courts, a move sparked by a public meeting where local residents overwhelmingly voiced their backing of the project.
Residents Tod Hart and Collin Ratsey outlined a suite of enhancements, including larger polycarbonate backboards, collapsible rims, heavy‑duty nets, protective pads on the support poles, and an eight‑foot hoop designed for younger children. They also proposed silk‑screened fencing in a tennis‑court style to help absorb noise that has been a point of contention among some neighbors.
The village’s recent financial outlays on the courts underscore the significance of the upgrade. In August, $19,200 was spent on a full renovation and resurfacing, and just last month an additional $4,750 was allocated to repair damage caused when a neighbor’s tree fell onto a fence during a storm.
Mayor Kevin Stuessi introduced a walk‑on resolution to accelerate the project, and Trustee Mary Bess Phillips echoed the mayor’s sentiment, affirming the board’s unanimous decision to move forward with planning and discussions with Hart and Ratsey.
Community members who spoke at the meeting urged the board not to let noise complaints derail the initiative, emphasizing that investment in youth‑focused recreational spaces is essential for the village’s future.