Future of Skateboard Equipment at Swearingen Park Up in the Air as Pickleball Courts Planned for Installation
Pickleball Courts to Replace Skateboard Equipment at Swearingen Park
Exciting changes are on the horizon for Swearingen Park in Napoleon, as plans have been unveiled to install three pickleball courts in place of the current skateboard equipment. The Napoleon Parks and Recreation Board recently reviewed preliminary plans for the new courts, which are set to be included in the 2025 budget.
Parks and Recreation Director Tony Cotter explained that the decision to replace the skateboard equipment with pickleball courts was made in response to the growing popularity of the sport among older individuals. The new courts will feature a resin/plastic surface that is believed to be easier on the joints compared to concrete.
In addition to the pickleball courts, the design for the park also includes two bocce ball courts and a putting green. However, due to budget constraints, these additional features will be part of a future phase of the project.
The discussion then turned to the fate of the current skateboard equipment. Cotter mentioned that there have been objections to removing the skate park, and several options were presented, including relocating the equipment to the basketball court at Oakwood Avenue or auctioning it off to benefit the Napoleon Police Union, which originally donated the equipment in 2009.
Ultimately, the board approved the removal of the skate park equipment, with plans to store it on city property and revisit the issue next year to explore potential new locations for the equipment. However, community members, including Nate Saneholtz, expressed their disappointment with the decision, arguing that the skate park serves a wider range of individuals and activities compared to structured sports like pickleball.
The topic will be further discussed at the next board meeting on Feb. 26, where Nate Saneholtz plans to present a petition in favor of keeping the skateboard equipment at Swearingen Park. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story as the community weighs the future of recreational opportunities at Swearingen Park.
