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By Seth Dahlhausen, dahlhausens@findlay.edu
Pickleball is coming to the University of Findlay with construction starting this week. Many students have been hopeful for pickleball courts.
Bryan Golding, director of recreational services at UF, confirmed the rumors of new pickleball courts and said four pickleball courts are being constructed west of Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion, next to the basketball courts across the street from the CBSL.
Students at the University of Findlay can expect these new pickleball courts to be ready as soon as this fall.
“I think they’re going to start construction, moving ground mid-September,” Golding said. “We’re hoping everything’s completed by mid-October.”
Junior Kaylie McCann is a resident director and a self-proclaimed beginner pickleball player. McCann is ecstatic to see pickleball courts coming to campus for a myriad of reasons.
“I know for me, pickleball just makes me happy when I play and it’s a good stress reliever,” McCann said. “It’s just something fun to do with your friends.”
McCann is not alone in appreciating the social aspect of pickleball. Jacob Mitchell is a junior ESOH major and an experienced pickleball player. He finds enjoyment in improving his skills and the skills of others.
“I especially like just getting to play with other people that want to get better and everything because it makes you a better person,” Mitchell said.
Students can look forward to friendly competition as intermural pickleball will be introduced with the new courts, according to Golding. McCann believes intermural pickleball will be a smash hit on campus.
“People would for sure sign up for that,” McCann said.
Many UF students spend their evenings and weekends playing at a few locations around Findlay that feature pickleball courts.
“If everyone has the gear and everything, they’re probably out there playing a couple times a week,” Mitchell said.
The closest pickleball courts currently are at Rawson Park, approximately 1.2 miles from campus.
The cost of building the courts is being funded by donors and is not costing the University anything extra.
“We had donors come to us and wanted to do pickleball courts, so we’re going to do pickleball courts,” Golding said.
Another potential impact of the new courts is creating something which makes prospective students want to attend UF. McCann added that she has never seen pickleball courts at schools similar to UF and it could be a selling point for some.
“I know a lot of my friends play pickleball back home and they are still in high school, and if they saw pickleball courts they would be encouraged to come here,” McCann said. “They know they can do something that they really enjoy.”
