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Expanded pickleball facilities get OK from Park Board
The fastest-growing sport in the country, pickleball is seeing a local boom as well.
And Putnam Pickleball Players President Mitch Dickerson wants to take advantage of that, proposing a pickeball patio and a new center access gate for the facilities at the northeast corner of Robe-Ann Park.
The patio, he said, would replace the grassy gathering area in front of the courts that is being lost to added parking. He envisions tables and sun sails similar to the splashpark with a concrete access from the parking area.
A new center access gate from the east side would be black vinyl and four feet high.
Future court expansion is foreseen for the east side of the facility, thus leaving the patio in the middle to serve both sides.
Dickerson said he estimates $29,070 for the upgrades -- $8,000 for the fencing, $4,500 for the concrete patio and sidewalk, $1,200 for tables and $15,000 for a proposed changeover to LED lighting.
“I think it’s needed from the traffic that facility generates,” Park Director Greg Ruark reasoned.
As an example, some 200 players were on hand for the Fourth of July tournament, Dickerson said, including a number of players from outside Greencastle and Putnam County.
Dickerson plans to get the proposed project paid for by private money and is confident he can raise the total in 30 days.
“We can do the work in stages if I don’t get all the money for the lighting,” he said.
Ideally, the work would be done before winter, Dickerson said
On a motion by Park Board member Pete Meyer, the concept for the pickleball upgrades was unanimously approved.
Ruark instructed Dickerson to return for an update on the project at next month’s Park Board meeting.
In other business, the Park Board:
-- Heard a report from Bryce Jones of Spear Corp. concerning the filter system at the aquatic center. He said the system was installed in 2005 and needs extensive repairs or replacement. A custom repair with all new valves could cost up to $30,000. The surge pit, as old as the pool itself, is also failing and could cost up to $325,000 to replace. Jones will prepare price quotes and return at the next meeting. No action was taken on the project.
-- Heard Ruark report that a row of bushes has been removed from around the park house, opening up that area near the Bloomington Street entrance. He noted that several appliances are still in the house and wondered if the utilities should but cut off at this point since it looks as though demolition is in the future for the structure.
-- Heard Ruark report that he has received one bid for installation of security cameras at the park and is waiting for two more proposals. He noted that wireless is available at Robe-Ann Park and cameras aren’t too expensive. “I’m not saying it won’t be an expensive project,” Ruark said, “but it will be worth it.”
-- Heard that Phase I construction work under way at Robe-Ann Park has resulted in the east entrance being widened from 20 feet to 30 feet.
-- Heard Ruark report that the Chamber of Commerce is planning a barbecue cook-off for Saturday, Oct. 29 at Robe-Ann Park.
-- Learned that board member Pete Meyer has resigned effective immediately since he has sold his house and moved outside city limits.
-- Heard Ruark note that he would like to consider an earlier starting time for Park Board meetings, along with potentially moving them to the park office. If those changes are agreed upon in the next couple of months, they would take effect in January.
Park Board members Cathy Merrell, Tim Trigg and Joanna Muncie joined Meyer for the October meeting. Besides Ruark, also in attendance were Assistant Park Director Chrysta Snellenbarger, Park Maintenance Director David Bault, Mayor Bill Dory and City Councilor Stacie Langdon, the Park Department liaison.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 at City Hall.