City unveils new pickleball courts

NORWALK — The City of Norwalk held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for three brand-new pickleball courts on Aug. 17 at Jaycee Bicentennial Park on South Pleasant St. After the ceremony, the Norwalk Pickleball club — which currently has more than 60 members — held an open play event that invited all to try out the new courts and play a friendly game of the sport, which continues to surge in popularity. The City Pickleball League tournament was also held after the courts were unveiled. "The addition of these new pickleball courts represents a significant enhancement to our community's recreational facilities," said Mike White, Safety Service Director, who spearheaded the project. "We are excited to celebrate this milestone and provide a space where residents of all ages can come together, stay active, and have fun." The new playing surfaces are a result of recreational demand for more courts at the west side park and support for the project by White, who is an avid player. With the additional courts, the park now has eight spaces dedicated to pickleball, a sport that has been embraced across the U.S. by players from 8 to 88 years old. For several years, five courts lined for pickleball have been in use on the former tennis courts at the east end of Jaycees Park. In July, the three new courts were painted in multiple coats by workers from the city's General Services department. The courts are located nearest to Pleasant Street at the west, between the driveway and Norwalk Creek. Red and blue paint delineate the two parts of each court, and all three are atop a massive concrete bunker that covers the underground components of the city sewer system's flood-control lift station. Ten feet separates each of the courts. On Aug. 6, City Council approved a $3,500 expense for new permanent poles and nets for the new courts, along with a fence on the south side to stop balls from going into the creek. Two of the five courts on the eastern side of Jaycees Park have permanent poles and nets retained from former use as tennis courts. Portable nets are set up to play on the other three. In its second season this summer, the Maple City Pickleball League has 22 teams competing in three divisions. Play wrapped up with the tournament on Aug. 17 The city also has outdoor pickleball courts at Lions Club Park on Gallup Ave. In the winter, pickleball can be played at the Perkins Family Gym on Monroe Street by the public library and Firelands Historical Society. For more information, those interested can contact Lynden Ramsey at 419-663-6775 or visit norwalkrec.com.