The Town of Pendleton is looking to acquire Niagara River Greenway funds to carry out tennis court renovation work at a future park site.
The town is in the process of acquiring Depeau Park from the State Canal Corporation, as it lies along the Erie Canal, entirely within the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. Pendleton officials want to resurface two existing tennis courts and convert a third into four pickleball courts, rehab a roller hockey court, install a fence around the court area, and improve the asphalt connections in the park.
Pendleton is requesting $150,000 in greenway funds while contributing the remaining $245,309 of the project costs. Of the $395.309 project amount, $377,709 would go toward construction while the remaining $17,600 would go to planning. Clarence Center-based American Paving & Excavating was awarded a $367,709 contract for this work back in January.
Its funding application states the existing court surfaces at Depeau Park are severely cracked and worn and the current fencing has deteriorated. Despite that, its roller hockey court continues to attract youths for recreation.
“Depeau Park occupies a unique position within Pendleton’s park system as one of the Town’s few publicly accessible properties located directly along the Erie Canal,” the application states. “Improvements to the court complex will strengthen the role of the park as a canal-adjacent recreation destination and trail rest stop, serving both residents and regional trail users.”
Pendleton has already committed to funding similar refurbishments at its Town Park at 6570 Campbell Blvd. There, it would resurface two tennis courts and convert a third into four pickleball courts, responding to a growing demand for the sport in the town.
In 2025, Pendleton attempted twice to get grants from State Parks for these improvements, but was unsuccessful due to the property’s ownership status. After that, the town board started the process of acquiring the park, anticipating that it would be complete by the end of the year, though it would proceed with state construction permits as necessary.
Depending on whether Pendleton is awarded the requested greenway funds, construction work at Depeau Park would start in the spring of 2027 and take six months. When complete, the town would own and maintain all of these improvements.
Town officials did not respond to requests for comment.