CALLICOON — “The fun is in your court”. This is the message the Delaware Youth Center conveyed to the community last Wednesday as they opened their newly renovated pickleball, basketball, and tennis courts.

Delaware Youth Center Board of Directors Chair Alex Gardner credited the result of this project to the “fantastic community” that the Delaware Youth Center has.

“There was a real need for resurfacing and expansion and everyone came together to make it happen,” explained Gardner. “We got government, businesses, and private individuals to chip in and help out.”

Gardner gave praises to all community levels for helping make this project a reality, shouting out Delaware Town Clerk Tess McBeath, Supervisor Scott DuBois, and the rest of the Town Board. He also thanked several local officials for their logistical support and facilitation of grants.

Gardner also credited the Town of Delaware and Sullivan 180 for their assisting in securing funding through the Sullivan 180 Grant Program that came via the town’s application process.

“Without the town, we would not have been able to get this grant,” Gardner stated.

Also on the long list of contributors was Paul from Northeast Paving and Resurfacing for the new court surfaces, with Mike Gore also helping out. Kristin Emmett of Garden Creations played a part in the landscaping, as well.

He also attributed individuals by the names of Wilbur and Deb for playing their meticulous hand in designing and placing donated equipment, helping make sure everything was just right such as placement with fences.

“This is here because we have a strong community,” Gardner attributed. “It’s a symbol of government, business, and people all working together to make something for everyone to enjoy.”

Sullivan 180 Director of Community Development & Communications Shannon Cilento highlighted and stated how projects such as this one contributed to the Youth Center’s mission of fostering healthy, connected communities across Sullivan County.

“Communities that provide access to parks, recreation, and public spaces have better health outcomes than those that don’t,” stated Cilento. “The work that the Delaware Youth Center, the Town of Delaware, and all of you have done to create places like this is truly contributing to a healthier community.”

Town of Delaware Clerk Tess McBeath looked back on the Youth Center’s history and longstanding resilience and community support.

She traced and told back to the Center’s 1920 beginnings with a humble running track and, armed with community efforts, expanded as the decades came and went. She stated of how in 1947, two doctors collaborated in raising enough money to construct a pool following the tragedy of several children drowning in the river.

McBeath also detailed that, come the 1960s, the hall was constructed which would go on to host roller skating events that would assist in operational funding. Through three major floods spanning 2004 to 2006, McBeath cited the Center’s standing strong as a vital part of community life.

“This place has always been community-oriented,” McBeath noted. “The community is why we have this, they support it. It’s the nicest place in the county, and we’re very fortunate to have it.”