Dover opens new pickleball courts at city park

The city of Dover held a ribbon-cutting ceremony under sunny skies April 13 to introduce new pickleball courts at Dover City Park. Plans for the courts had been in development for about a year. The courts are located just south of the Dover Parks and Recreation office at 2421 N. Wooster Ave.

Mayor Shane Gunnoe, council members, Safety Director Bob Everett, Service Director Dave Douglas and members of the Dover Community Parks Foundation attended the event. The Dover Community Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving Dover parks.

“The four new courts were designed so that four more could be added down the road,” Gunnoe said. He said the additional space can be used for parking for now.

Douglas said additional recreation improvements also are being considered.

“We are working on new bocce courts and while we were hoping for this year, it is dependent on available funding,” Douglas said.

A new pavilion also is under construction at the same location, with local construction company Gor-Con serving as the builder.

An inaugural pickleball game was played by Bev Smith, Joan Shook, Jeff Shook and Jeff Funk immediately following the ribbon-cutting.

Funding for the pickleball project came from a variety of sources. The largest contribution was a $50,000 Reeves Grant. Other major donations included a combined $10,000 from First Federal Community Bank, $5,000 from Paul and Linda McFadden, $4,000 from Robert and Trudy Sensel and $2,500 each from Glen Groh and Dover Hydraulics.

Additional $1,000 donors included Howard and Sarah Dugger, McInturf Realty, Donald Maurer, Susan D. Miller and family, the Dover Lions Club, ProVia, the Insurance Agency of Miller and Miller Inc. and Cleveland Clinic-Dr. Rogers.

Other donations were $500 from Smith Ambulance Services Inc.; $300 from Alan Deibel; $250 each from SeibertKeck Insurance Partners and Michael and Anne Gunther; $200 each from Jeffery and Lauri Mamarella and Andy and Kathy Brooker; $100 each from Greg Bair and Jeffrey and Connie Funk; $50 each from Jeff and Joan Shook, Nancy Scaffidi, Ann Marie and Michael Davis, Mike and Robin Griesen and Aida Samson; and $25 from Harold and Elizabeth Morris.