Project planned at Ritts Park
The tennis courts at Ritts Park have frequently been used to play pickleball since they were painted with the lines for that sport about two years ago.
The park is currently going through a $39,000 construction project that will upgrade the courts to make them better-suited for playing pickleball, add a new fitness trail and restore a walkway.
Butler City Councilman Jeff Smith said the updates to the park will likely be completed by next spring.
“We're waiting to talk to someone about the painting of the courts. Not sure it'll happen this fall or not,” Smith said. “The fitness trail will be ordered this fall, but it won't probably be installed until next spring. The original equipment was wooden and there was a supply issue, so we're looking at some alternatives.”In addition to updating Ritts Park, the city is also collaborating with Butler Area School District to make improvements at Broad Street Elementary School's playground, which will be accessible to the community.Butler Area School District Superintendent Brian White said at Monday's school board meeting that through an agreement with the city, Broad Street Elementary's playground could get improvements and new equipment.
“This will enable the city to access funds for the playground for community use at Broad Street,” White said of the agreement. “It's a program that requires cooperation between the school district and municipality.”According to Smith, the agreement calls for the city to essentially lease Broad Street's playground for $1 a year, which will open up the ability for the city to apply for a grant through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for improvements.“The district will own the land, but the city will apply for a grant to rehabilitate the playground and put some new equipment in,” Smith said. “We have been throwing around all kinds of ideas.”
