Atlantic Park Officials Revisit Pickleball Project: The Atlantic Park Advisory Commission will revisit discussions about a possible pickleball project during its March 26 meeting. The project could involve repurposing part of the tennis courts at Washington Elementary, but final decisions may depend on a school board review of a master plan for the campus.
Exploring Partnership with Schools
In February, the commission approved allowing Council Liaison Mike McDermott to ask Atlantic Community School officials if they were open to collaborating on the project. The idea would be to share costs by using part of the tennis courts at Washington Elementary for pickleball.
McDermott initially explored this option after commission member Ali Pieken suggested replacing one of the basketball courts at Sunnyside Park with four pickleball courts. If the school does not move forward with a joint project, the Sunnyside Park option remains on the table, though the city would have to cover all costs.
School Board’s Position on the Project
Atlantic Superintendent Beth Johnsen advised the school board to delay any decision until a broader master plan for Washington Elementary is reviewed.
“We might want to consider just putting a hold on that until the board has a chance to really review what they do want to do at the campus at Washington,”-(Beth Johnsen)
The board is expected to discuss the master plan during its March 26 work session, which could impact the timeline for the pickleball project.
What’s Next?
The commission’s meeting will determine the next steps in bringing pickleball to Atlantic. If the school board agrees to a partnership, costs could be shared. Otherwise, the city may consider moving forward with courts at Sunnyside Park.
News in Brief: Atlantic Park Officials Revisit Pickleball Project
The Atlantic Park Advisory Commission will continue discussions on a pickleball project on March 26. The project may involve Washington Elementary’s tennis courts, pending a school board review. If collaboration isn’t possible, Sunnyside Park remains an option. The school board is set to discuss the matter during its work session.
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