By Sandi Latimer
Staff Writer
Pictured here is LVL UP Sports Owner Dave Pando showing 12-year-old Jeremy Wicks how to safely shoot a paintball marker along with Paintball Club at The Ohio State University President Raymond Greenfield (right) who shot one of the first paintballs during the June 20 groundbreaking for the new paintball facility at 5390 Harrisburg Pike in Jackson Township.
Splat!
Got hit by a paintball projectile.
“Don’t worry Mom,” says David Pando, owner of a new gaming center about to open in Jackson Township. The paint is washable. And for environmentalists, it’s biodegradable.
A ceremonial paintball was shot June 20 at the 5390 Harrisburg Pike location.
“We actually broke ground a month ago,” said Pando.
Work being done at the 36.5-acre site includes installing 20-foot protective netting, converting the double-wide trailer from the office into a pro shop and snack bar, making paths through the six acres of woods, and building an obstacle course.
Mini villages are planned as are themed courses, such as a castle for attack-and-defend play.
Come Aug. 21, the targeted opening date, LVL UP Sports (pronounced Level UP Sports) will welcome what Pando calls ‘memory makers.’
“Everyone always remembers their first experience at paintball,” Pando said.
The paintball park will welcome individuals and groups for open recreational play as well as teams for competitive play. With the location so close to Columbus, the Ohio State University team will use this as their home course, as will Pando’s alma mater Ohio University.
This is the closest site to the two schools, he said.
“There is a course at Mount Gilead where teams from the north play,” he said. “They get as many as a thousand players a week. That’s why we decided to come here.
“It’s always been my dream to build one here, where I grew up,” Pando said. “Once a paintballer gets that first rush, that first splat on an opponent, that first tournament win, that shiny new paintball marker, the hobby quickly becomes a massively enjoyable addition to their lives. It’s just pure fun, and anyone can play.”
Participants will be able to rent equipment on site or bring their own.
The park will be open to not only individuals, but also private parties, military and police training, corporate team-building, church events, zombie-themed paintball games during Halloween, collegiate tournaments, and fundraising events.
For more information, visit info@lvlupsports.com or call 614-313-1382.
