The tennis courts at Plym Park were bustling with activity this weekend, gut it wasn’t tennis that was being played.

It was pickleball, a growing paddle sport that is a mix between tennis, ping pong and badminton.

More than 70 people participated Saturday in the tournament — Niles’ first ever organized pickleball competition.

Even more people gathered around the outside of the courts in foldable camping chairs watching the fast-paced action.

While the Plym Park tennis courts served their purpose, the event would have been even better if it had been played on an actual pickleball court.

To get the courts prepared for the action, organizers had to put make shift lines and different nets (the net is actually shorter than a tennis court’s net) in the middle of the tennis courts.

Niles could use a permanent pickleball court of its own.

There seems to be the demand for it.

There is also a good spot for it in the parking lot area behind where the old public safety building used to be.

A group of Niles pickleball enthusiasts has already gotten cost estimates for placing four courts there. It is under $40,000.

If built, the courts would offer another activity for people visiting Riverfront Park and a place for future pickleball tournaments in Niles. It could even bring in more money in tourism.

The decision to build the courts seems to be a no-brainer.

Finding the funding for it, however, is another matter.

We are guessing that the city council would be thrilled if this group of Niles pickleballers raised all the money themselves, since funding is tight in the city. That would be the best way to get this project off the ground and people on the courts.

We look forward to seeing how the city council, parks department and pickleball enthusiasts work together to make this dream a reality in order to eventually offer such an asset to our community.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.