Pickleball volunteers win permission to use Hannah Park courts; council to review winter locking and future painting

Volunteers organizing informal pickleball play at Hannah Park received council approval to use the courts regularly and to install permanent court lines this season, while asking the city to consider sealing and color-coding the surface next spring.

Ron Heath, a community organizer, told council the group uses an app to schedule drop-in play and welcomes all residents. Paul Ballard, who gave his address during public comment, said the group is not a private club and that the playtime scheduler helps ensure at least four players show up before play begins. Both said they will cover most costs through fundraising and donations and that a contractor from Williamsport had described a resurfacing schedule that would keep the courts in good condition.

Council members pressed for clarification about whether the courts could be reserved and whether nets would be permanent. Organizers said the nets would be removable for the off season and that striping will be installed this year, with sealing and color coding planned for the following spring to avoid winter damage. Organizers estimated the resurfacing would have a long useful life; a contractor cited roughly a 10-year interval before major touch-ups would be required.

The group also requested the courts be locked during winter months to protect the investment. Greg Wilson (named earlier by speakers as an official) and the city solicitor told council that exclusive use or locking of park property raises legal issues and would require formal review and a future agenda item. The council treated the informal approval of use and lining as a consensus to place a formal request about locking and any exclusive-use limits on the next meeting agenda so the solicitor could advise on authority and process.

Council members and staff noted the city contributed about $30,000 toward the parcel and that any restriction of public access would need careful review so park resources remain available to all residents.

The matter resulted in an approval for use and lining this season and a direction to staff to research legal options and return the locking request for council consideration at a subsequent meeting.