Pickleball Coming to Santee

Gather your wits, a paddle, and a Wiffle ball.  It’s time for some pickleball.

This fast-growing sport, which has been catching on with retirees, may soon be playable at Big Rock Park in the city of Santee.

The city is proposing to restripe one of its two tennis courts at Big Rock to accommodate four pickleball courts, which can be spread over a single tennis court. The newly striped “multi-use” court, which would still be available for tennis, would be reserved during certain blocks of time for pickleballers.

The public is invited to comment on the plan by emailing Recreation Services Manager Susan Richardson at srichardson@cityofsanteeca.gov by Sept. 3, or by attending the Sept. 4 meeting of the Santee Park and Recreation Committee (SPARC).  The committee meets at 6:30 p.m. at Building 8A at the Civic Center Complex, 10601 Magnolia Avenue.

The idea to introduce pickelball to Santee was initially brought to the Park and Recreation Committee in June by Mike Blaksley, a 62-year-old retiree from La Mesa.

“Pickleball’s time has come and we need your help and guidance to make this happen,” he told the committee. Pickleball courts, both indoors and outdoors, exist at several parks countywide including Lakeside, La Mesa, Pacific Beach, Coronado, Escondido and Poway.

Blaksley said it’s unfortunate there are so few pickleball courts in East County because the region has the perfect demographics ---an abundance of active seniors – who would enjoy trying the sport of they knew it was available.

“I think East County could become a central place for people to play pickleball,” he said.
The sport is attractive to active seniors because players rely more on quickness and strategy rather than the speed and agility that is required to play tennis, he said.

“There’s 8,000 Baby Boomers retiring across the U.S. every day, and this is a great sport for them to pick up,” he said.

And many have. In the past three years, membership in the U.S. Pickleball Association has doubled to 200,000.

Games are usually played as doubles on a badminton-sized court that is about one-third the size of a traditional tennis court.  Players use wood or composite paddles to hit a light plastic Whiffleball across a 36-inch lightweight net. Games are fast –moving and generally last from 10 to 20 minutes, which allows players to rotate onto a court without excessive waiting.

“It’s a great, active cardio sport. It’s not risk-free in terms of injuries but it’s a lot easier on your joints,” Blaksley said. “It’s a great social environment and it’s also an affordable sport for young and old to play.”

Blaksley said he’s only been playing for about a year, but he’s found it invigorating to the point of being addicting.

“It’s a game a sheer strategy and ball placement,” he said. “It’s just a heckuva lot of fun.”

Work Started on Upgrades to Town Center Parkway and Woodside Avenue

A city contractor this week began work on improvements to sections of two streets located in key commercial corridors.

The segments being upgraded are 1)Town Center Parkway between Mission Gorge Road and Cuyamaca Street; and 2) Woodside Avenue between the State Route 67 offramp  and Magnolia Avenue.

The improvements include new pedestrian ramps, replacing the concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks, asphalt patching and a new road surface.

The contractor will give advance notice to business owners when driveways replacements take place.  Asphalt work will be done at night to minimize impacts to businesses.

The work is expected to be completed Oct. 27.

Questions can be directed to Senior Civil Engineer Toby Espinola at (619) 258-4100 ext. 174 or email at tobyespinola@cityofsanteeca.gov

 

City to Host Meeting Tonight on Prospect Avenue Project

Santee city officials will host a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers to provide information to residents and business owners affected by the Prospect Avenue Corridor Enhancement Project.

The project, which is about 60 percent  finished, will now include grinding away and replacing the road surface.  Work will begin near Cuyamaca Street and continue east toward Magnolia Avenue. This work will require temporary closure of driveways to allow the roadway to be constructed.

Last Monday, the city notified property owners and tenants of the roadway construction work and of tonight’s public meeting.

To minimize the impact, Prospect Avenue will be reconstructed in increments. The city will give advance notice to business owners when their  particular driveways and frontage will be affected by the road work.

The $25 million project, which started in January and is expected to take a year to finish, calls for upgrading a mile-long section of  Prospect Avenue between Magnolia Avenue and Cuyamaca Street.

Improvements include adding sidewalks, curbs and gutters, along with attractive but water-wise landscaping. Overhead utility wires will be undergrounded and utility poles removed. New street lighting will be installed and storm drains will be upgraded. On-street parking and bicycle lanes will be provided on both sides of the street.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Senior Civil Engineer Toby Espinola at (619) 258-4100 ext. 174.