Beach volleyball courts, the latest recreational outlet in Nocatee

By Anthony Richards

St. Johns County’s emphasis on promoting an array of sports was on display once again during a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 15 for four beach volleyball courts that are now part of the Nocatee Community Park.

The event served as the official ribbon cutting for the courts, which have been opened since the start of June, and many county officials were present.

Casey Van Rysdam was on hand representing the county recreation advisory board and expressed his appreciation of the project and understood the importance of it as a former volleyball player himself.

“About 30-plus years ago there was a gentleman named Dale Williams who worked in leadership in the rec department who helped us build one court at the beach near the pier and then we built another court and put some fencing up and got a shower and lights, then a few other courts,” Van Rysdam said. “I lived on those courts, and it was a big part of my life, so it has been exciting for me to now bring these courts to the northern part of the county.”

As the press conference was taking place, there were children of various ages from the St. Johns Volleyball Club hitting balls on the courts behind where the podium was set up.

“I’m so excited about the volleyball courts because we could have a Misty May or Kerri Walsh out there, and that’s how we find out who in Nocatee can go out there and play,” St. Johns County Commission Chair Krista Joseph said. “Let’s go play!”

Van Rysdam believes the beach courts in Nocatee can use the courts near the pier in St. Augustine as a model for how volleyball can build an even tighter-knit community.

“I’ve got a son whose Eagle Scout project was managing a charity volleyball tournament at the pier and a 12-year-old granddaughter playing at the pier now,” Van Rysdam said. “So, if you want to know what the importance of the growth of this sport is, and the importance of this type of facility to our residents and tourists, just drive by those courts and you’ll see it.”

This time around it was Andor Gyulai, owner of the St. Johns Volleyball Club, who came to the county with a group of supporters from the Nocatee community to push for similar courts in this area of the county about three years ago.

“We’ve been in meetings with him looking at the growth of the sport and the dollars involved,” Van Rysdam said. “It’s a good day for volleyball and it’s a good day for St. Johns County.”

According to Ryan Kane, St. Johns County parks and recreation director, creating new avenues to get residents visiting and using parks throughout the county is a major win in helping add to the overall experience and atmosphere for county residents.

“This is one of those projects that has come through the whole process,” said  Kane. “This started as grassroots with residents coming out to the recreation advisory board and to the parks and recreation department asking for a need that they felt was there in the community. For us to hear that, absorb that, and get it through the budget process to get the funding for this is an amazing opportunity.”