Parks Board Tables Decision On Any Further Pickleball Courts
August 19, 2020 at 3:50 a.m.
By Jackie [email protected]
“At our last meeting, Butch Schapson came in and they were requesting the use of the additional tennis court out at Kelly Park for temporary pickleball (courts),” said Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer. “Since then, Butch also said they’re also looking at the basketball court as an alternative to the tennis court. However, that was redone just the year prior just like six months before the tennis project was done, too.”
Schapson represented a 150-member pickleball club called Pickleball Phanatics during July’s meeting. The Phanatics meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Kelly Park with over 30 people wanting to play.
Board member Jill Beehler said she talked to one of her friends that does both pickleball and tennis and was told no one is real happy, but the tennis people do not want Kelly Park to be only pickleball and “of course, the pickleball people want more.”
Beehler said she did go out to see what kind of parking there is around Center Lake to see if half could be at Center Lake and the other half at Kelly Park. She said there isn’t a lot of parking at Kelly Park.
Plummer said most of the tennis is more driven toward the afternoon and evening hours, as opposed to pickleball, which is more morning hours.
Board member Michelle Boxell said after seeing pictures of the temporary lines that were requested, she didn’t think that was doable.
“I know they said, ‘That’s not the type of tape we would use and we could use special pickleball tape,’” she said, but until she sees what the pickleball tape looks like after being pulled up after being on the court for a summer, “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that - a temporary line.”
Board Vice President Larry Ladd said he agreed with what Boxell said. He did check with Goshen. He said it may have been some time since they’ve done it, but they don’t have any courts that do both pickleball and tennis. He also checked with other municipalities and he could not find any municipality that provides a court for pickleball and tennis.
He said the courts at Kelly Park are so nice, he’d hate to risk the chance of ruining the courts.
“I think they have a good argument. I think it’s a very popular sport,” Ladd said. However, he doesn’t support changing the court at this time.
Board President Steve Haines asked how far away the next five-year plan was.
Plummer said they’re set to begin working on it next year.
The board also was updated about Ker Park on East Market Street.
Plummer said the concrete and old playground has been removed and the trees have been trimmed.
Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner has been working really hard and had all the timbers for the new playground almost put in, Plummer said. Excavation for the concrete work at the front of the park has started.
“Our whole goal is to have the concrete, the tables, the trash receptacles and the bench swings and the concrete work done by this fall, so then in the spring time, we can just put the playground equipment in” and do some landscaping and the playground should be ready for next year, Plummer said.
“At our last meeting, Butch Schapson came in and they were requesting the use of the additional tennis court out at Kelly Park for temporary pickleball (courts),” said Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer. “Since then, Butch also said they’re also looking at the basketball court as an alternative to the tennis court. However, that was redone just the year prior just like six months before the tennis project was done, too.”
Schapson represented a 150-member pickleball club called Pickleball Phanatics during July’s meeting. The Phanatics meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Kelly Park with over 30 people wanting to play.
Board member Jill Beehler said she talked to one of her friends that does both pickleball and tennis and was told no one is real happy, but the tennis people do not want Kelly Park to be only pickleball and “of course, the pickleball people want more.”
Beehler said she did go out to see what kind of parking there is around Center Lake to see if half could be at Center Lake and the other half at Kelly Park. She said there isn’t a lot of parking at Kelly Park.
Plummer said most of the tennis is more driven toward the afternoon and evening hours, as opposed to pickleball, which is more morning hours.
Board member Michelle Boxell said after seeing pictures of the temporary lines that were requested, she didn’t think that was doable.
“I know they said, ‘That’s not the type of tape we would use and we could use special pickleball tape,’” she said, but until she sees what the pickleball tape looks like after being pulled up after being on the court for a summer, “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that - a temporary line.”
Board Vice President Larry Ladd said he agreed with what Boxell said. He did check with Goshen. He said it may have been some time since they’ve done it, but they don’t have any courts that do both pickleball and tennis. He also checked with other municipalities and he could not find any municipality that provides a court for pickleball and tennis.
He said the courts at Kelly Park are so nice, he’d hate to risk the chance of ruining the courts.
“I think they have a good argument. I think it’s a very popular sport,” Ladd said. However, he doesn’t support changing the court at this time.
Board President Steve Haines asked how far away the next five-year plan was.
Plummer said they’re set to begin working on it next year.
The board also was updated about Ker Park on East Market Street.
Plummer said the concrete and old playground has been removed and the trees have been trimmed.
Maintenance Director Shaun Gardner has been working really hard and had all the timbers for the new playground almost put in, Plummer said. Excavation for the concrete work at the front of the park has started.
“Our whole goal is to have the concrete, the tables, the trash receptacles and the bench swings and the concrete work done by this fall, so then in the spring time, we can just put the playground equipment in” and do some landscaping and the playground should be ready for next year, Plummer said.
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