By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The morning was chilly, with a bit of a breeze, but that didn’t discourage pickleball players – especially when they finally have their own outdoor courts.
On a recent morning outside the Bowling Green Community Center, players batted balls back and forth at the new outdoor pickleball courts recently opened for anyone to play. For three years, the local pickleball players have promoted and raised money for the outdoor courts.
Prior to the new courts being completed, the diehard players traveled to Perrysburg, Holland or Findlay to play on outdoor courts. During the colder months, they played in the community center gymnasium on makeshift courts that are usually used for basketball.
That gym space is shared with many other purposes – youth sports, fitness classes and National Guard activities.
So in 2022, local pickleball players served up a proposal for outdoor pickleball courts in Bowling Green. The city started the ball rolling with $150,000 in ARPA funding.
“Everyone loves the outdoor courts,” said Paul Walker, of Bowling Green, who began playing pickleball about 10 years ago at his parents’ Florida residence.
“You can see the ball better, without the glare from indoor lights,” he said.
While the new outdoor courts are filled with retirees in the mornings, it’s students and young adults who populate the courts in late afternoons and evenings, Walker said.
The $640,000 project has been championed by the BG Parks and Recreation Foundation and a dedicated group of local pickleball enthusiasts, who have raised more than $100,000 for the courts.
In addition to the eight courts, the project also includes lighting, seating and fencing around the entire area. A shelterhouse to provide shade is projected to be installed soon.
The outdoor courts allow players to gather anytime during daylight hours in the warmer months.
Four pickleball courts can fit on one tennis court. The games are shorter, averaging 10 to 15 minutes each. The players cover less space, don’t have to be in great shape to play, and don’t have to be super skilled to enjoy the game.
Denise Grigson, of Bowling Green, started playing pickleball two years ago, and was soon hooked.
“It’s really fun. I love it,” she said, in between matches earlier this week.
The outdoor courts allow up to eight games to be played at once, with dividers between the courts – meaning less chasing of the ball across other courts.
“It’s been a really good thing,” Grigson said of the new facility.
Greg Rogers, of Bowling Green, touted the health benefits of pickleball. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with low grade diabetes, and was advised by his doctor to begin medication or lose weight.
Rogers, who used to play tennis in his younger years, decided to try pickleball.
That was 40 pounds ago.
“I was losing weight at a nice slow rate,” he said. “It never felt like it was exercise – I was having fun.”
And unlike tennis, pickleball allows older adults to remain competitive.
“Old people can play young people and win,” Rogers said with a grin.
Carol Hicks, of Bowling Green, took up pickleball six years ago.
“I started as soon as I retired,” she said.
She had high praise for the new outdoor courts that allow for more hours of play.
“They’re such a wonderful asset for the community. Anybody can play,” Hicks said. “It feels like a treasure.”
An official ribbon cutting will be held later this fall, once the shelterhouse is constructed on the site.
