If you’re itching to play pickleball but don’t have a paddle, the Harris branch library near the Elm Road courts has them to lend.
No paddles required for the Introduction to Pickleball class, Mondays in May, 5:30 – 7pm, weather permitting. Paddles are provided for use during the class.
When you’re ready to buy a paddle, consider a product from Niles-based PaddleTech. They support local efforts to encourage learning and play, including for the class!
Intro to pickleball Mondays in April 5:30pm Elm Road, between library and fire station. No experience or paddles necessary. Weather permitting.
Come play Pickleball at Elm Road – the nets are up!
ALSO: Intro class scheduled for Monday 4/3 at 5:30 pm.
Some trees are planted, with more greenery on the way in coming months.
Monday, April 3rd at 5:30 pm at the new park on Elm Road, between the library and fire station. No experience necessary. An instructor will introduce the sport, then facilitate practice play. Loaner paddles and balls will be provided – courtesy of Niles’ own Paddletek (thanks!). Please wear non-marking shoes. No charge. Weather permitting. Approximately 90 minutes, that is until 7 pm.
This is the first class opportunity; there may be more.
Harris Township Park on Brummitt Road is now closed for the season. The gates are locked. There will be no garbage receptacles, nor any restrooms in place. Look for the park re-opening in March of 2017.
Elm Ped Park on Elm Road is also effectively closed for the season. The pickleball nets have been removed, and the baseball bases will be removed. There is no garbage pickup; please don’t attempt to leave garbage in the bins. The driveways and parking lot will not be snow-plowed. The basketball hoops will remain up so, weather permitting, it might be possible to play a some basketball.
Attention friends of Harris Township Park: The back, large parking lot was recently resurfaced at a cost to taxpayers. Soon after, somebody damaged the surface by doing donuts with a vehicle. That prompted us to close the back gate — allowing for continued use of the up-front playground. While the township hoped to keep the park open as long as the weather remained nice, somebody actually removed fencing so they could get to the back lot and once again do donuts. As a result, the decision was made to close the entire park for the season, earlier than planned. You can personally ‘thank’ somebody if you ever catch them in the act, or call the St. Joseph County Police at 574-235-9611. We intend to.
Saturday afternoon 11.5.2016: all four pickleball courts had players on them, as did the basketball court. People driving by stopped to check it out. First time pickleball players from Bridlewood tried the game, and they were good. Kids found a way to make up for the lack of a splash pad.
The Harris Township Board – Karen Vargo, Jeff Broadwick and Chuck Sulok – and the trustee, Ken Lindsay are thrilled people are using the park just a few short days after it opened on Wednesday 11.2.2016.
The courts have been painted. Benches, bike loops and garbage cans are installed. And construction fencing has been removed. Enjoy it while the weather is nice, and tell us what you think. Please keep off the sprouting and growing grass.
Stay tuned for opportunities to learn how to play pickleball.
Planned for this year — planting of trees and shrubs, removal of poles, and installation of lights.
Planned for next year or beyond — playground equipment and a shelter or two.
The weather delayed the process a few times, but a base coat and some of the blue and green top coat has been applied to the basketball and pickleball courts. NO PLAY YET, please. A couple more days work once the weather is nice enough again, and we should be good to go. An announcement will be posted.
Some furnishings will be installed yet this year. We also plan to install some trees, take out ples and install lights. Thanks for your patience.
Please stay off the grass, as we’ve hydro-seeded again.
The new lawn has been applied at Elm Road Pedestrian Park, via a hydro-seeding process. Park construction is winding down, but there are a few weeks left until the park is open. In the mean time, PLEASE let the grass start growing and stay off the courts if they are in the process of being painted. If we have to pay to rework anything, it will be wasted money. [Your Harris Township Trustee hates waste!]
What is left to do this year? Fencing. Court painting, sealing and drying. Planting trees and shrubs. Installing benches, garbage cans and bike lock-up loops. Completion of the ball diamond infield. Removal of some light poles and installation of others.
After this year the playground will be improved, and one or more pavilions may be built. Please watch for fundraisers — including by Granger Sunrise Rotary –for your opportunities to help make future improvements a reality.
Elm Road Pedestrian Park – Elm Ped Park – EPP
