Photo provided Design plans are shown for the new pickleball courts at Dunn Stadium.
The Columbus Plan Commission moved forward plans for a pickleball facility at Dunn Stadium.
The commission on Wednesday night unanimously voted 10-0 to give approval for a site development plan major modification in order to construct a pickleball facility and re-stripe 21 parking spaces at Dunn Stadium.
The request was made by the Bartholomew County commissioners as Dunn Stadium is a county park.
Dunn Stadium already has baseball/softball diamonds and a BMX bike track, and will soon add a 12-court pickleball facility on the west side of the property, south of the BMX track. The hope is that the 1.25 acre pickleball facility, which will have free admission, will be substantially completed by mid-October. Substantial completion is the stage when a construction project is sufficiently complete to be utilized for its intended use.
Crews have already excavated and graded the land where the new complex will be.
Representatives of Case Construction Inc. and the Bartholomew County commissioners signed a $573,218 contract for the much-anticipated project. The contract amount includes $510,852 to build the illuminated courts, as well as $62,366 for site furnishings like bleachers, bike racks and picnic tables. Another alternative proposal to install concrete courts, rather than asphalt, was not accepted.
There will be bleachers on the east side of the area and benches in an asphalted island between the courts. There will also be eight red maple trees installed between the southern six courts and parking spaces, according to the planning staff report.
Consulting engineer Charlie Day of DLZ Indiana said last month that construction companies have been finding it difficult to obtain necessary supplies, and if south central Indiana receives above-normal rainfall, delays might be unavoidable.
There were eight bids received by different contractors – substantially more than other county projects have received in some time.
The Dunn Stadium facility will be the second largest local pickleball facility, surpassed only by 18 courts at Cera Sports Park and Campground. There are also six courts at Donner Park, eight at the Tipton Lakes Athletic Club and the new Circle K Fieldhouse has been lined to accommodate six pickleball courts. Foundation for Youth and Harrison Lake County Club have pickleball courts as well.
Planning staff had recommended a few conditions, which were included in the final motion. They were that a storm water permit be obtained from city engineering before a zoning compliance certificate is issued for the project, along with “a couple fairly minor notation changes on the site plan, several with regard to floodplain information, and making sure the surveyor certificate is signed,” city/county Planning Director Jeff Bergman said.
