Ticonderoga — One of the newest businesses in town will provide a lifestyle sport for all ages as well as giving back to the youth of the community.
#Northern Lake George Paddle, located next to Eddie’s Restaurant between Ticonderoga and Hague, will host a Family Fun Day event from 9 to 11 a.m., opening to the public to offer free instruction and play with Patty Hogan, six-time national champion and member of the APTA Platform Tennis Hall of Fame.
#“I’ve been in the profession for almost 30 years as a teaching professional and playing tennis and platform tennis,” Hogan said. “I really was looking for an adult sport that I could go play and have fun. I am a big proponent of sports and play for kids and adults.”
#Two paddle, or platform, tennis courts have been created on the site. The sport is played on a smaller court than regular tennis, but also allows for the use of side fences in placing shots.
#“Points can go on for several minutes at a time,” Hogan said. “You need to be thinking ahead and strategy comes into play.”
#Along with her honors on the court, Hogan has helped run the junior national championships for the past 10 years and has coached 27 junior national champions.
#Northern Lake George Paddle has been set up to help support local youth organizations, pairing with the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance.
#“We were thinking about something that we could give to this community,” Hogan said. “I am donating my time to make this work. My years as one of the first year-round teaching professionals and through all I have accomplished in the sport it gives me the ability to give back to the community. We have committed our business profits to helping the youth programs in Ticonderoga.”
#Hogan and others helped to create the new platform tennis courts as part of a community build.
“Scott Hearburg, Rick Bartlett and Doug Ross were real champions for this,” Hogan said. “I had reached out to Scott and told him my plans, and he said I should just go out and get it done. ProBuild and Matt Armstrong also helped out a lot. The community build saved us a lot of money that we can now put toward youth programs.”
#The organization has received several donations to help fund the build as well, including Paul and Jane Ingrey.
#The property, owned by Dave and Beth Iuliano, was leased to Hogan for $1 a year, adding to the profits which will be put toward the youth programs.
#“It’s great because the first time I met Dave, he asked what paddle tennis was and I told him its the sport that will be played next door to the restaurant some day,” Hogan said.
#Hogan said the courts would be open to members of the after school program through Silver Bay YMCA and Ticonderoga Central School.
#She also helped to start Platform for Life, a junior leadership, job training and mentoring program with the help of Andrea McDonald of College for Every Student, along with a Platform for Life summer program for youth up to age 13.
#Northern Lake George Paddle will offer year-round memberships, as the two courts will be lighted and heated in the winter months, which will start at $175 for individuals.
#“These are going to be the cheapest membership fees in the country,” Hogan said. “We will also offer installment plans for members.”
#People will also be able to play on the courts for a donation, suggested at $10. It will also be open for larger groups.
#“We will be available for things like family reunions and birthday parties,” Hogan said. “We will run the facility through the memberships and donations, which people can pay as they go.”
#For more information on Northern Lake George Paddle, visit the website northernlakegeorgeplatformtennis.blogspot.com, email nlgpaddle@gmail.com, or call Eddie’s Restaurant at 585-7030.