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Grand Opening in New Canaan, CT

10-28-2004

New Canaan , CT Waveny Park will officially open 4 new platform tennis courts to the public on Saturday October 30th: start time 11:30am. A Pro Exhibition starts @ 12:00pm including #1 ranked David Ohlmuller, Mike Cochrane (#5), David Caldwell (#9), & Viking Academy trainer John Milbank.  The event is open to the public so make plans to join the festivities - click here for more details and full schedule

Waveny Park in New Canaan, CT, is the major recreation center for our town. The park covers 300 acres of walking trails, spacious lawns and athletic fields. New Canaan residents enjoy jogging, nature walks, sports, dog walking and picnicking on the grounds. There are fields for soccer, baseball, softball as well as paddle tennis courts.

The park also houses Waveny House, a beautiful Tudor mansion where weddings, meetings and social functions are held in grand style. The house was originally the home of the Lewis Lapham family, built in 1912. The Town of New Canaan bought the house and grounds in 1967 and dedicated them for recreational use.

Event: Grand Opening of New Canaan’s new paddle courts Time: Saturday, October 30th, 2004, 11:30am Location: Waveny Park, New Canaan CT directions to Waveny Park
Schedule:	Advertised start/end time for public is 11:30am – 1:00pm
11:30am	Welcome and Introductions by Park & Rec Chairman Dr. Mark DeWaele First Selectwoman Judy Neville and Selectmen Paul Giusti and Johnny Potts present the courts to the community Ceremonial "First Serve by First Selectwoman" Immediately followed by Pro Exhibition featuring #1-ranked Dave Ohlmuller, Mike Cochrane (#5), David Caldwell (#9), and Viking Academy trainer John Milbank .
12:45pm	Raffle, prizes, and giveaways
1:00pm	Grand Opening ceremony ends, Viking Academy begins (pre-registration is required; call Rec Department at 203-594-3600.)

	Notes:
•	The event is free of charge and open to the entire public
•	The Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony is being organized by the New Canaan Community Platform Tennis Advisory Board, a committee of volunteer residents working under the guidance of the Park & Recreation Commission.
•	The Park & Recreation Commission is chaired by Dr. Mark DeWaele. The Advisory Board is led by Steve Caccam, President; Ann Lobdell, Vice President; and Susan Lovejoy, Secretary and Treasurer.
•	Other Advisory Board members are: Wendy Cutler, Ed Eppler, George Perkins, David Sabel, and Jon Stone.
•	The purpose of the Advisory Board is to raise the awareness of the game in New Canaan and increase the participation in this fun healthy family sport.
•	Dave Ohlmuller is the current #1-ranked national player, is a 3-time Men’s National Champion, 3-time Mixed Doubles Champion, and with his wife Marina, the current Husband/Wife National Champion.
•	Viking is the most recognized brand in the sport of platform tennis. The Long Island-headquartered company is a manufacturer of paddles, balls, and related equipment. For more information, visit their website www.vikingathletics.com.
•	Robert Mallozzi, owner of Bob’s Sports, was instrumental in securing the participation of Viking and Dave Ohlmuller
•	The courts were constructed by Reilly Green Mountain LLC, one of the premier builders of platform tennis courts nationwide. For more information, visit their website www.platformtennis.com
•	The APTA (American Platform Tennis Association) is the governing body for the sport. Headquartered in New Jersey, the APTA has a professional staff that coordinates volunteers, players, and tournament directors and sanctions over 100 local, regional, and national tournaments a year for men, women, and juniors. For more information, visit their website www.platformtennis.org
•	New Canaan has longtime been considered a hotbed for platform tennis in Fairfield County. The town is enjoying a resurgence in the popularity of the sport.
•	Ann Lobdell, Co-Chair of the New Canaan Women’s Platform Tennis League says that in only their second full season, there are 128 ladies playing in eight different flights, and there is a waiting list of people wanting to join.
•	The Senior Men’s Club has always had an avid group of players. George Perkins says that approximately two dozen of their members play regularly.
•	The New Canaan Men’s Paddle League is expected to have over 72 men playing this year.
•	For the first time, New Canaan will field a “town” team to compete against many private clubs in neighboring Greenwich, Darien, and Wilton in the Fairfield County Platform Tennis League.
•	The game of platform tennis, more commonly known to enthusiasts simply as “paddle”, has its origins in Scarsdale, NY dating back to the late 1920’s and today is enjoyed by an estimated 40,000 players nationwide.