photo by: Eric Ayres

Players took to the new courts Thursday soon after the grand opening of the Pat Carroll Pickleball Courts and the Patterson Sports Complex in the Elm Grove area of Wheeling.

WHEELING — Pickleball fanatics eagerly took to the new courts at the Patterson Sports Complex in Elm Grove on Thursday following a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the recently completed project.

The city celebrated the official grand opening of the Pat Carroll Pickleball Courts after many months of construction.

“It was an honor to have city council support a resolution to name these courts after Pat Carroll,” said Ward 6 Councilman Dave Palmer, who represents the Elm Grove neighborhood. “Pat was so instrumental in bringing pickleball to Wheeling.”

Palmer noted that Carroll actually spent his money many years ago to refinish an old tennis court at the Patterson complex and make it a pickleball court, and then worked hard for a number of years to get a base of players.

“It was kind of slow taking off, but it really picked up, and it’s gone really well,” Palmer said. “It really is a very popular sport for young and old alike.”

Carroll was on hand during Thursday’s ribbon cutting for the new courts that carry his name. He was first exposed to the game while spending winters in Florida. He quickly got hooked and worked to bring the growing sport to Wheeling.

“For the first few years, it was like pulling teeth,” Carroll said, noting that it took time to catch on locally, but eventually it really caught on in a big way. “Pickleball itself is a social thing, as much as it is good exercise. Everybody here is a friend now — if you want to play, you just show up. If you are 10 or if you’re 90, you can still play.”

What previously housed two tennis courts at the Patterson complex is now home to eight new pickleball courts. Being a neighbor of the complex, Palmer said use of the tennis courts had diminished in recent years, while the pickleball craze exploded.

Carroll noted that with eight courts, the city is now able to hold tournaments in town and invite players from West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania to come play.

The courts were closed for construction from June to October — which unfortunately is the heart of outdoor pickleball season, but is also the heart of construction season, Palmer noted. The courts were opened last week for a “soft opening,” then a few touch-up items were addressed this week before they were officially re-opened Thursday.

“I would say it’s a pickleball day in Wheeling,” said Mayor Denny Magruder. “We all know that pickleball has become one of the most popular recreational activities, and the great thing about these courts — it provides an opportunity for people of all ages and all skill sets to come and enjoy this.”

Semper Fi Paving of Bridgeport, Valley Fence Company of Wheeling and Recreation Resources USA of Kennett Square, Pa., were all awarded contracts for portions of the work on the new courts. City personnel from several departments also helped propel the project forward.

“It has really been a big effort — not only for the outside contractors but also for our Operations Department, for our Recreation Department and for the administration to handle contracts and for city council to approve the funding,” Palmer said. “We’ve put over $100,000 in pickleball courts. Hopefully they’ll be there for residents to use for many years to come.”

A chunk of the funding for the new courts came from federal pandemic relief funds to the city through the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We’re excited about the fact that pickleball is such a popular sport in Wheeling and the fact that we have people of all ages that play the sport and are very passionate about it,” City Manager Robert Herron said. “We’re pleased to be able to provide these courts as well as some others around the city. We look forward to a very successful several years of use for these facilities.”