by Mohammed Fuad

GAZETTE EDITOR

The Hammonton Parks and Recreation Commission provided updates on the pickleball and tennis courts resurfacing , future use of facility requests and a discussion with Hammonton Lake Water Committee Chair Dan Bachalis during their monthly meeting at town hall on July 18 .

Public Works Manager Robert Vettese said both the upper and lower parts of the court are painted , both color- coded and striped , with white for tennis and sandy color for pickleball .

The gates for the courts have not been installed ; Vettese is meeting with the contractors in regards to that . The portable toilets for the courts will remain accessible and stay out 24 / 7 .

An update was provided on the Historical Society of Hammonton building , with contracts being awarded to replace the front steps as well as the railings to the building .

Parks and Recreation Leader Denise Mazzeo details on three use-of-facility requests . The New Jersey State Police requested use of the 11th Street Recreation Field on August 10 for their annual softball tournament . Synnora Holmes requested using the gazebo at Hammonton Lake Park on July 28 for a wedding

ceremony . Steffany Campanella has also requested using the gazebo on October 7 for a wedding ceremony . All use of facility requests were approved .

Mazzeo also wanted to make sure the fields are in good condition ahead of the N . J . State Police softball tournament . Councilman Sam Rodio spoke with Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel about the camera

systems and lights being installed at the fields , which could take 6-8 months to a year .

“ It ’ s a shame with the way the world is today , we have to get there ,” Rodio said . “ You can ’ t walk five steps without a camera around , it ’ s a shame .”

During the open public comment , Hammonton Lake Water Quality Advisory Committee and Environmental Commission

Chair Dan Bachalis provided an update on the threatened and endangered species study on Hammonton Lake with DuBois Environmental Consultants . The survey and protocols from Du- Bois will go to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission for review , which Bachalis hopes can take a couple of weeks . He is optimistic that study will start some time in August , with results

back by late August or September .

Bachalis told members of Parks and Recreation as to why naturalists and other environmentalists don ’ t tell people where they find the threatened and endangered species due to fear of people finding the species and harming them .

The next meeting will be on Aug . 16 at town hall .