Children try their hand at pickleball at new courts at Pastime Park in Plain City. The village combined new pickleball and basketball courts into one multi-use space. The project was made possible in part by a Nature Works grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
(Posted Nov. 9, 2022)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
On Nov. 4, the village of Plain City dedicated their newly renovated basketball/pickleball courts at Pastime Park.
The courts are located near the park’s main entrance at North Chillicothe and Second streets. Previously, the space was home to two full-size basketball courts that had become unusable due to deterioration of the asphalt surface.
The renovation covers the same footprint as the previous space and includes two new basketball courts, complete with new backboards. The same surface also is marked for six full pickleball courts. The pickleball nets are on wheels so they can be moved into place for pickleball or out of place to make room for basketball play. The project also included new fencing all around and a new handicap parking space.
Dace DeWitt won a pickleball set in a drawing held at the dedication of Plain City’s newly renovated basketball/pickleball courts. He accepts his prizer from Mayor Jody Carney.
The village’s decision to include pickleball court markings and equipment was based on resident feedback about desired park and recreation amenities and the increased interest in the sport in general, said Haley Lupton, village manager.
Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong using a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Anyone of any age or skill level can play. The sport can be played one-on-one or two-on-two. Rules of the game can be found on the village’s website, plain-city.com; go to the “Parks & Rec” tab and click on “Sand Volleyball/Pickleball.”
“It’s something new and fresh,” said Denton Kitts, Plain City parks and recreation assistant, about the multi-use courts.
Linda Granger, parks and recreation director, said she hopes to find someone who can teach a pickleball class. Residents also have expressed interest in starting pickleball leagues.
One pickleball set of four paddles and a ball are available to checkout at the park office, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For details, call (614) 873-3527, ext. 108.
An $83,000 Nature Works grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources covered approximately one-third of the cost of the project.
