By Mark Carpenter
People’s Defender
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country with an estimated 24 million Americans playing the game as thousands of new courts are popping up everywhere. One of those “everywheres” is now Adams County as the Adams County Senior Center opened their newly built courts, deemed the “Pickle Patch”, in an official July 24 dedication ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by State Representative Justin Pizzulli, members of the Adams County Chamber of Commerce, and numerous local officials.
Pickleball is an easy to learn, inexpensive sport to participate for people of all ages and now Adams Countians will have the opportunity close to home.
According to Debbie Ryan, coordinator for the Adams County Creating Healthy Communities Program, the Senior Citizens Council Board had a vision to build a pickleball court for all users, not just senior citizens.
“The Creating Healthy Communities program is a grant through the Ohio Department of Health that is charged with providing areas for physical activity and increase access to healthy foods, so naturally, this was a great fit for us,” said Ryan. “The Adams County Health & Wellness Coalition also wanted to support this effort. Additionally, an anonymous private donation was awarded to the ACHWC for the specific work on the pickleball park.”
The new pickleball park has two courts, several benches, a picnic table, swing and a large sunshade. It is open from dawn to dusk, and all ages are welcome. The park also has its own designated parking behind the Senior Center, located at 10835 State Rte. 41 in West Union.
The ACHWC gifted pickleball sets to all four county libraries, complete with paddles and balls that can be “booked” for use if someone doesn’t have their own.
Many people already began using the courts prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony.