RIVERSIDE

Ready for some pickleball?

Improvements at Hall Park in Riverside are expected to include the debut of three pickleball courts in spring 2025.

The $200,000 project, which was discussed during the Riverside City Council’s meeting Monday, will also include a new surface in front of the main stage at Hall Park, along with additional signage around the park.

City engineer Brian Boulk of Iowa City-based Axiom Consultants is heading up designs for the project, which is the opening phase of planned improvements at Hall Park.

The pickleball courts will have lights to accommodate evening play.

Pickleball’s popularity is growing, partly due to a smaller court size than tennis with lighter balls and lighter paddles. More than 35 million Americans play pickleball, according to the APP Tour, and the City Council was approached by a pickleball group over the summer.

The City Council approved a resolution clearing the way for City Administrator Cole Smith to apply for a $100,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. The city would match another $100,000 in capital improvement funds.

Another upcoming project, the extension of Cherry Lane near Highland Elementary, will not be worked on until after the 2024-25 school year, Smith said, which kicks that project into Fiscal Year 2026.

The Riverboat Foundation is expected to announce its grant awards in November or December. Monday was the deadline for applications.

Heading to Mount Vernon

The City Council will hit the road for its next meeting.

The group will travel to Mount Vernon on September 30 for a 6 p.m. work session, open to the public, that will be held at the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center on Palisades Road in Mount Vernon.

Riverside officials are studying the potential of building a community center and have discussed plans during work sessions in August. The center would be built on property near Highland Elementary School. The work session will give the City Council a close look at another community center.

The $7 million Buresh Wellness Center is 33,000 square feet and includes a gym, running track, sport courts, fitness studio and a climbing wall.

Council Action

The Council approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Urban Renewal Report.

The Council approved an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a FY24 audit report.

The Council approved the letting of bids for a downtown revitalization project that would update the fronts of seven downtown buildings. A public hearing is expected to be a part of the council’s October 21 meeting.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. October 7.