Shelby parks board bringing pickleball to town, wants to hear what else people want
SHELBY — The fastest-growing sport in the United States is coming to Shelby.
An estimated 36.5 million people played pickleball, which is a combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton, between August 2021 and August 2022.
Shelby's parks board wants to know what else people would like to see in the city.
"Let's find out what the public wants," said Dave Downs, a parks board member.
Rather than conduct a formal survey, the parks board is asking people to visit its Facebook page, Shelby Ohio Parks and Recreation, with their ideas.
In September 2021, Shelby received a $38,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Plans were to resurface the two tennis courts at Seltzer Park, but that proved to be cost-prohibitive.
"The city engineer's estimate came back at $58,000," Downs said. "It was way beyond what we could afford to pay as a parks board."
Members decided to convert the north side of the two tennis courts into three pickleball courts. They will be 44-by-20 feet with 10 feet between courts.
"If we feel that we need more courts, we have the south side that we could possibly come back to in a year or two," Downs said if there is a demand for more pickleball.
"We just went out to bid on Thursday," Downs said, adding bids will be opened on March 4. "As soon as the weather breaks, we can get it started. It shouldn't take too long."
Downs said he has tried pickleball and is a fan.
"It's not nearly as taxing as tennis. It's fun," he said.
In the interim, the parks board is hoping to get a grant from the Richland County Foundation to pay for a summer intern to help with plans.
The person's hours would be determined. Downs said an intern could conduct an introductory class or clinic on pickleball and help with the disc golf course at Seltzer Park.
"It's short," he said of the disc golf course, "but there's a lot of trees, a lot of trees."
Downs said he hopes to coordinate with a contact at Ohio State University at Mansfield about an intern.
Anyone interested in the position should send a resume to city hall, 43 W. Main St., Shelby OH 44875.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Pickleball coming to Shelby; parks board wants to hear from residents
