The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
City adds pickleball program
Additional recreation offerings intended for adults
The city of Chardon is now serving up pickleball.
Parks & Recreation Director Joe Rodriguez painted the lines
himself on one of the city’s basketball courts to create two pickleball courts, by the pool at 316 Maple Ave.
About $400 was spent on two portable nets, balls and paddles, which can be obtained from the cashier at the pool.
“Typically, people own their own paddles and balls, but the city did purchase a set of four paddles, and I think we have six balls,” Rodriguez said. “If a novice wants to try the game, they can give us their driver’s license at the pool and take the paddles.”
The pickleball courts are available only during the daytime
“We don’t have enough activities for adults, and pickleball tends to be an activity that former tennis players, the elderly..” — Parks & Recreation Director Joe Rodriguez
— on a first-come, firstserved basis — until 5 p.m. The pool opens at 6 a.m.
The program is planned for adults only.
“My rationale is this,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t have enough activities for adults, and pickleball tends to be an activity that former tennis players,
the elderly, like to get into. The young adults in the 20 to 30 years of age range do get into this, and do make it highly competitive with their skills and movement.
“The basketball courts are heavily used by the young people in the evening. That’s why we’re not having it as an evening activity. I don’t want to push the young people away.”
He said he got the idea at meetings with other recreation directors in the area who share what’s going on in their communities.
“I’m trying to get more up to date with the limited resources I do have,” he said.
Other local organizations and communities offering pickleball include the Geauga and Lake county YMCAs, Mentor, Mayfield and Lyndhurst.
Chardon’s Park & Recreation Board recognized the need for additional activities for senior citizens and supported creating the courts, City Manager Randy Sharpe said.
“Interest in pickleball has been growing over the past few years,” he said. “Being able to provide another option for seniors to exercise is always a good thing. There are many physical and mental benefits that those in the aging population are able to derive from regular exercise. The new pickleball courts are a short walk from the Chardon Living Memorial Park, where outdoor adult exercise machines were installed. After the pickleball game and workout, participants can cool down by taking a walk on the paths in the woods behind the Chalet.”
A 2017 Sports & Fitness Industry Association pickleball participation report indicated that there were nearly $3 million players in the United States — an increase of 12.3 over the year prior.
The game, created in 1965 near Seattle, is a fusion of racquetball, PingPong and tennis. The origin of the name is thought to be derived from one of the founders’ dogs, “Pickles,” who loved to chase stray balls, according to The USA Pickleball Association.