Pickleball club seeking funding to enhance Coshocton parks
The Coshocton Pickleball Club, in partnership with the City of Coshocton and Kids America, is seeking funding to enhance Coshocton parks through construction of pickleball courts at the Coshocton City – Kids America Athletic Campus, to include seven additional pickleball courts, a walking path, and related facility enhancements. The City of Coshocton has granted permission for the club to utilize land adjacent to the current pickleball courts located within the Coshocton City – Kids America Athletic Campus.
The need for additional courts comes from the exponential growth and popularity of pickleball, America’s fastest growing sport, especially in Coshocton. Coshocton Pickleball Club, now in its sixth year, currently has grown to more than 200 pickleballers and club members. People come from around the region to play here on a regular basis due to the club’s reputation, organization and competitive opportunities. League play includes members from at least five neighboring cities. Open pickleball play occurs each morning and on evenings at Kids America. Pickleball has no age or fitness limits. Everyone is welcome to come, play, and be part of the family-type camaraderie.
Additionally, this club offers other opportunities. Monthly skill clinics for members and non-members are held in which fundamentals at various levels of play are taught. Leagues are formed seasonally and continue to grow. Coshocton Pickleball Club has become well known across that state for its sanctioned tournaments hosted quarterly each year, the most recent being the March tournament in which Coshocton hosted more than 181 competitors, from several counties outside of Coshocton County and from nine other states. Since 2019, Coshocton has drawn nearly 1000 entries. Patronage from these events benefit local establishments with lodging, shopping and dining, thus providing tourism revenue to the local economy.
The Coshocton Pickleball Club also gives back to its community. Club members have assisted various families during difficult situations and continue to work within the community independently and alongside other civic groups. Benefit marathons are held, allowing players of varying ability levels to compete, as well as help others, too. For example, in January, the Coshocton Pickleball Marathon welcomed more than 100 competitors, 70% of whom were from outside of Coshocton and several from outside of Ohio.
More information can be discovered about the local pickleball scene by following the Coshocton Pickleball Club Facebook page and by contacting Kids America at 740-622-6657.