By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The pickleball craze is sweeping the nation and making its way to Canal Winchester where players could potentially indulge their passion if the city opens five new courts in McGill Park in 2024.
Construction Services Director Bill Sims updated Canal Winchester City Council during its July 17 meeting on public and private projects, including the installation of pickleball courts in the second phase of the park’s development.
“We’re on track to go out to bid in August,” Sims said. “I think we can probably have them constructed this year, but I don’t know if they would be necessarily playable. That may be spring time playability, but we can certainly get the asphalt done this year.”
Councilman Patrick Shea said all he hears is “pickleball, pickleball, pickleball” and thanked Sims for moving up a construction timeline.
Although Public Works Director Matt Peoples said the city is close to finalizing the plan, council has yet to budget the $733,000 estimated cost for the project, which includes the courts, lighting,and parking lot improvements.
“We would need an appropriation amendment to move forward,” said Peoples, who said basketball courts were originally proposed for the pickleball site.
Other CW news
•The city is sponsoring a Hometown Heroes banner program modeled after one conducted in Groveport and is currently soliciting applications until July 31. The program was created to honor and recognize military personnel currently or previously residing in the city limits.
Hometown Heroes is a partnership between Canal Winchester and VFW Post 10523. The banners will be displayed on light poles in the historic downtown area this year from Labor Day to Veterans Day and from Memorial Day through Veterans Day in 2024.
The commemorative two-sided full color banner features the name, branch of service, and military photo of the honoree, who must meet criteria including active duty status or honorably discharged veteran, retired veteran or died in the line of duty.
Fourteen applications have already been accepted and the city is in the process of checking eligibility. Council previously waived an application fee. For information, call 614-837-8276.
•Council discussed the potential for installing a downtown speaker system within the boundaries of Waterloo to Columbus streets at an estimated cost of $12,600. Concerns included the type of music broadcast, business opinions, and scheduling.
“I’d be interested in knowing what the businesses think,” said Councilman Bob Clark.
Councilman Mike Walker felt the system goes hand-in-hand with the DORA and likened the ambiance to music piped though Easton.
Peoples said he does not want to get into a situation where the city needs to figure out what businesses are scheduling live music that could conflict with the city’s proposed speaker system.
“We could try it out in Stradley Park to see if it has a following where it is less impactful on businesses,” said Peoples.
