Citing lack of maintenance and safety to park users, Pine City decided to demolish the only thing close to a public regulation three-wall handball court in Minnesota. The only remaining three-wall facility are the two wooden courts in Phalen Park in St. Paul, and they also are on the endangered list. The City has ignored these courts for several years and rumors have circulated that they will be removed to allow for expansion of native wetlands.

Thanks to the efforts of Curt Schlenner, we now have some facts and an awareness on the part of both Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul Parks that these courts are utilized regularly and should be retained or replaced. The existing area is likely to see some changes in the coming years because Ramsey County has requested the City vacate the area. The City needs to relocate the tennis courts and was planning on eliminating the handball courts in the process. Both the City and the County have shown support for funding the construction of new, regulation courts in a different park in the St. Paul area if the MSHA will partner to promote handball programs with classes, and youth development programs. This ties-in nicely with the new MSHA Development Program. The formal budget process would put completion out about three years. We will provide plans and estimates to assist.

In response and to support Curt’s initial work, the MSHA Board created a three-wall committee chaired by Bill DeVahl with Greg Taylor, Sheldon Silberman and Curt Schlenner. This committee will continue work with the City and County on developing the needed support and details to turn this dream into a reality. If you would like to help, contact the editor or Bill DeVahl at (651) 735-7848.