Pickleball ‘dinkers’ will have a new court in O’Fallon
Pickleball “dinkers” are rejoicing in O’Fallon as rumors about courts closing aren’t true, and a new one is being added, Director of Parks and Recreation Andrew Dallner has assured residents.
One eager pickleball player attended the council’s Park Committee meeting Monday, April 11, to plea for more courts, not less.
Currently, three Pickleball courts are available at Hesse Park, 810 Madison. However, the parks department presented a new configuration that will add a fourth court there.
Dallner told Karen Pfeiffer they will re-orientate the three to make room for a fourth, and the new north-south direction will prevent players from being unable to see because of the sun setting.
“We’re excited about it,” he said.
The pickleball dinker encouraged the city to expand to more parks. She said, in the winter, players go to the Fairview Heights Recreation Center to play.
“We want to come back outside,” she said, noting it is not just for “old people.”
A local Pickleball Club was established five years ago in the city and has grown exponentially.
“There are about 150 members of the ‘Pickled Dinkers of Hesse Park’ who play weekly,” Dallner said. “So we can verify that our numbers match national trends on the growing sport of pickleball. I do feel confident that if someday we were able to add three or four more courts, they would be used.”
Pickleball, created for all ages and skill levels, is played either indoors or outdoors on a level court, with short-handled paddles and a perforated plastic ball volleyed over a low net by two players or pairs of players.
The work is expected to be completed in about two weeks, Dallner said, weather permitting.
Family Sports Park Ball Fields
As sure as the daffodils bloom, the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department is abuzz with activity. Current ongoing projects at the Family Sports Park and other future plans are improving the scope of play in town.
Dallner presented a construction update on the installation of all-weather turf fields on the 5-8 fields at Family Sports Park.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive during a tournament over the weekend, he said.
“It was very well-received,” he said. “Coaches were happy they didn’t have to worry about the weather.”
Lights are expected to be finished soon at fields 9 and 10. The weather has caused delays.
The Splash Pad is being rehabbed, Dallner said. They have taken care of the deteriorated liner and the corroded drainage pipes and placed new rocks in the stream.
Outdoor Sports in Full Swing
Staffing for the season has gone well, Dallner said. The department employs more than 220 part-time seasonal employees.
Among the 500 activities they provide over the course of year are summer camps, and enrollment is nearly full, he said, especially for Camp Choo Choo for preschoolers and Camp Cavins at the community center.
In Recreation Supervisor Tyler Lafferty’s report, he noted O&S baseball and softball has 789 players registered and 63 coaches.
Recreation Supervisor Kirkwood Meyers reported O & S soccer started March 5, and weather has caused two weeks of missed practice due to rain and cold temperatures. Games were to start April 9. There are nearly 500 players.
Mighty Ball for 3- 4- and 5-years-olds started March 19 and has 124 players signed up.
Improve Wireless Network
The committee advanced a proposal for Clearwave Fire Ethernet Services at the Family Sports Park, which will be acted upon at the Monday, April 18, council meeting.
Dallner explained wireless network links are no longer sufficient to provide network connectivity to the Family Sports Park. The city’s Information Technology Department solicited proposals from Clearwave and Spectrum for fiber ethernet services.
Both companies provide leased network services to the city and have fiber at the desired demarcation point into the city’s network — the other end of the connection to the Sports Park.
With total cost including current taxes and fees, Clearwave’s proposal came in 22% lower than Spectrum’s proposal for 200MB fiber Ethernet leased services.
This project is included in the proposed FY23 budget. The annual cost for this contract with current taxes and fees included is $9,000 annually for 60 months.
City Accepting Resumes for Vacant Ward 3 City Council Seat
The city of O’Fallon is now accepting resumes from residents of Ward 3 interested in serving on the O’Fallon City Council.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 22. Candidates can submit a resume to Mayor Herb Roach at hroach@ofallon.org or drop it off at city hall between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
“There are a lot of O’Fallon citizens in Ward 3 that would do a great job on the city council,” Roach said. “I would like to open up the opportunity for any residents of Ward 3 to apply to fill the vacant seat on the city council.”
After reviewing resumes, Roach will make a recommendation to the city council prior to the May 16 council meeting.
The open city council position is due to the untimely passing of Kevin Hagarty. If selected, the candidate would hold the position through April 2023. Only residents of Ward 3 can apply for the vacant position. O’Fallon’s ward boundaries can be found at www.ofallon.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=3bf535e5c0444be3be3a959346fd56af.
State law requires the mayor forward a replacement to the city council within 60 days after the vacancy occurs. The city council then has 30 days to approve the appointment. There are no requirements in the state law on how the mayor selects the replacement.
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 1:10 PM.