The parks department was recently awarded a $53,000 grant through the K21 Health Foundation grant to refurbish the courts at Bixler Park to accommodate four pickleball courts and two tennis courts. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — In recognition of a grant that will be used for the renovation of tennis courts at Bixler Park, the parks board voted in favor of naming the courts after the K21 Health Foundation and/or displaying some type of plaque in honor of the foundation’s contribution to the project.

The decision was made during the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19.

The parks department was recently awarded a $53,000 grant through the K21 Health Foundation grant to refurbish the courts at Bixler Park to accommodate four pickleball courts and two tennis courts. 

Rich Haddad, president and CEO of K21, via a letter to Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer, requested that the parks board consider having the courts named in recognition of K21 being the sole outside funder for the renovation of the courts.

The letter read, in part, “It is always helpful when K21 can be seen in the community in the environments that most easily represent our mission and purpose for our great community. Bixler and Center parks area provides very important amenities for our community and offers so many ways for families to be active and have opportunity to live in a healthy way.”

“I think K21 has been very supportive of the parks department … I certainly don’t have any problem in supporting a sign, a plaque, whatever you and Rich could come up with,” parks board vice president Larry Ladd said.

“I’m supportive of giving them naming rights to that since they’re funding so much of that and they’re such a strong supporter,” said board member Michelle Boxell.

The Bixler Park project will involve an additional $29,540 in park funds for a total cost of $82,540. When complete, it would become the second city park with permanent pickleball courts.

It is anticipated that the courts will be ready by mid-summer of 2022.

In other news: 

• The five year master plan has been submitted to the Department of Natural Resources for review.
• The next regular meeting will be 5:15 p.m. Nov.16.