WEST NEWBURY – Pickleball courts seem to be springing up at any vacant spots as this sport solidifies its popularity with North Shore residents.
But none of them have a granite wall reclaimed from the historic Middle Street Bridge, which connected Newburyport and West Newbury over the Upper Artichoke Reservoir since the 19th Century.
The granite repurposed as a wall outside the new courts “is probably more valuable than the courts themselves,” Town Manager Angus Jennings said. The two new courts, at Action Cove playground, cost $175,000.
Welcoming players is a granite stone with a plaque, created by Marcia Schoeder, that reminds visitors that the stones are from the bridge, which was closed eight years ago when it partially collapsed.
Due to the nature of the collapse and the materials originally used, none of its granite was salvageable for use in the bridge replacement.
Both West Newbury and Newburyport, which owned the bridge, divided the granite removed from the bridge for use in future projects. ♦
