CRANBERRY TWP — The new SportCourts at Graham Park were supposed to be dedicated in October, but some unforeseen circumstances have delayed the project.

The wet spring and early summer revealed soft clay under the courts, which had to be removed and filled with more structurally sound soils, said Bruce Mazzoni, Cranberry Township Community Chest board member and township supervisor. Mazzoni said they are taking the time to rectify the issue the right way rather than rushing to get it done by October.

The courts will be dedicated and open to the public in April.

“It was decided it was in the best interest of the future courts ... for long term stability not to try to squeeze in a rushed dedication in later October rather to take a few extra months to do a great job,” Mazzoni said.

The SportCourts and community garden are the Cranberry Township Community Chest's 2017 Project of the Year. The CTCC contributed $125,000 and raised about $350,000 from the community to put in eight pickleball courts, two basketball courts, two tennis courts, three boccie courts, four horseshoe pits and a community garden.

Additionally, the township is putting in a new bathroom in the area and installing sidewalks and other amenities.

The outdoor pickleball courts have been of special interest to the newly formed Cranberry Township Pickleball Association.

The association came together to ensure eight top-of-the-line courts were built at Graham Park as part of the CTCC project, to better organize pickleball play by skill level in the township and better develop players through training, clinics and organized matches. The group has more than 70 members and is accepting new social and competitive members all the time.

While the association waits for the courts in Graham Park to be finished, it will kick off outdoor play Sept. 1 at the Community Park, where six tennis courts have been turned into pickleball courts.

Lines were painted on each side of the tennis courts and portable nets will be brought in, creating two pickleball courts for each tennis court. The CTPA will oversee playing times on all six courts for members from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and on four of the courts from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The rest of the time all courts in the Community Park will be dedicated to tennis players.

While no public pickleball play is allowed on the repurposed courts, Mazzoni said the association is hosting a “CTPA member for a day” event Sept 8 to 11 where the public can come out and play as a member for free for the day.

Membership to the association is also being discounted until March 2018.

For more information, visit www.ctpapickleball.com.