Dover serves up solution to pickleball courts

Mayor Shane Gunnoe announced the pickleball court shortage the city has been experiencing could be a thing of the past.

“Tonight, I’m excited to announce the city will be working along with the Dover Parks Foundation to begin a fundraising drive to help raise donations for additional pickleball courts as our current two courts are no longer sufficient to meet the demand from the community,” Gunnoe said.

The land next to the park’s office has been identified as the location for the future pickleball courts. They will need an estimated $255,000 to complete four new pickleball courts.

A drawing of the project shows space for eight new pickleball courts, but the city will start by raising the funding needed to install four courts. If more money is raised, more courts could be added.

The two courts on Deis Hill will remain, and there are plans to resurface them.

“That would be something that the city would take care of, separate from our fundraising initiative on the four new courts,” Gunnoe said. “Those are really heavily utilized, especially by younger folks. We feel like there’s enough demand, enough need in the community for a total of six courts.”

Anyone interested in supporting the project can make a check payable to City of Dover and mail it to the Auditor’s Office, 122 E. Third St., Dover, OH 44622. Put pickleball in the memo line.

“We hope the community will help assist us financially to help bring this project to reality,” Gunnoe said.

At last week’s planning commission meeting, there were two items of interest approved.

“First, the commission approved a lot split request by the Ohio National Guard to allow land for future commercial development at the corner of Ohio Avenue and Wooster Avenue,” Gunnoe said. “The National Guard and the city have had multiple companies express interest in the approximately 2-acre parcel. We hope the lot split and the lands eventual sale will lead to additional development in the future.”

The commission also approved the site plan submitted for the Schaeffler manufacturing facility.

“It’s important to note that the plan submitted by the company calls for a 260,000-square-foot facility, which is nearly double what was originally announced for phase one by the company back in February,” Gunnoe said. “In my mind this speaks well for the future of this project and Schaeffler’s commitment to our area.”

The city plans to select an engineering firm for the public stormwater management portion of the project in the next week.

There are many upcoming events on the schedule for Dover.

The Dover Fire Department will host an open house on Oct. 9 from 6-8 p.m. at 116 E. Third St. Visitors can learn fire-safety information, see and touch fire trucks, and get light refreshments. There also will be a bounce house and other activities for children.

The Dover Community Parks Foundation will host the second annual Parktoberfest at Dover City Park on Oct. 12 from 3-6 p.m. German food will be served along with homemade root beer. There also will be a live polka band and a cruise-in. Takeout dinners will be available.

Tickets may be purchased at the parks and recreation office or at McDonald Niklaus Framing. More information is available on the Dover Community Parks Foundation Facebook page. Some of the proceeds will be donated toward the new pickleball courts.

The Dover Lions Halloween Parade is scheduled for Oct. 30 and will begin at 6:45 p.m. The parade will step off from Dover High School. Registration and waivers are available on the City of Dover website. There is no charge to enter the parade.

Trick or treat in Dover is scheduled for Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m. The Dover Community Parks Foundation also will host Trick or Treat on the Trail at Dover City Park on the same day from 3-5 p.m. Members of the parks foundation announced a surprise will be in store for those attending.

The next Dover Council meeting will be held Oct. 7 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.