On Wednesday, October 19th, at 5:30 p.m, join the community of Niles for the ribbon cutting and dedication of the brand new Pickleball Courts at Plym Park. This massive park project began accepting bid proposals in March of this year, and just six and a half months later, the new courts are finished and ready to open.
Public Works director Joe Ray says, “Several years ago there were a couple groups that had made requests at a City Council meeting to put in pickleball courts. At the time, the City didn’t have any funding available.” With the help of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds and other community grants, the plan quickly became a reality.
New outdoor sporting facilities are pertinent to community involvement and growth, and Plym Park, with its playground, basketball courts, softball fields, and golf course, is bustling with activity. “With the volume of Pickleball players already using them, I would say it has become a nice complement to our existing park system,” says Director Ray. The courts are open to the public and free to use, and tournaments and large events can be made possible by contacting the City Clerk to submit an application.
Paddletek, ‘one of the top pickleball equipment brands today’, is fittingly located in Niles, and began as a small family business. In the last decade, it has grown in size and popularity, “expanding their product line with more groundbreaking innovations, and fine-tuning the perfect paddle for every style of play and every type of athlete.”
Plym Park is located at 401 Marmont Steet, off of M-139 and behind the Berrien County Courthouse in Niles. The ribbon cutting celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m, and will include free lessons, exciting giveaways, and proud representation by City Administration, the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Nick Shelton.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
