North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Groundbreaking for the Central Park Pickleball Complex was held last Saturday morning. Turning over the first shovels of dirt for the project were, left to right, Jim Grainger, Operations Manager Parks and Public Grounds; Mayor Pro Tem J. Baldwin; Darry Del Corro; City Manager Ryan Fabbri; Mayor Marilyn Hatley; Councilman Trey Skidmore; Councilman Bubba Collins; and Director of Parks and Recreation Matt Gibbons.
By John Smithson
North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Director Matt Gibbons knows how to win over a crowd of pickleball enthusiasts. He did that last Saturday morning at Central Park. “I just want to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Central Park Pickleball Complex.”
When the cheering stopped Gibbons continued. “I know a lot of people have been waiting for this day for a long time and we are excited to be here and see it come to fruition. We are so fortunate in this city to have such great support from our city leaders. They make days like this possible.”
With that said Gibbons introduced Mayor Marilyn Hatley for her comments. “We are blessed and excited to have this wonderful crowd here today. I want to thank all of you for your patience, for pushing and helping us through this.”
“Thanks also to our council members here today and special thanks to our city staff. This complex represents the best of North Myrtle Beach, a commitment to come together and create something that will be lasting. Pickleball has grown tremendously in our city and this facility will serve residents and visitors for generations to come.”
“This complex is a shared commitment between the city and our community. Members of the pickleball group have played a vital role in this facility. We thank you for dedicating yourselves to fundraisers and supporting us through this process. I cannot thank you enough. I know you are excited and ready for us to break ground for this facility that we are getting ready to build.” Hatley said.
City Manager Ryan Fabbri spoke next. “It is a fitting time to be in North Myrtle Beach, with a lot going on and a lot of projects. I am a little bit more excited about this project for many reasons. First, it’s different than anything we are doing or have ever done. It’s a pretty cool project and different than anything we have currently.”
“Another reason I like this project is that when I came here as assistant city manager, I was trying to find my place, my role, my responsibilities. One of the first things brought to my attention was becoming involved in this pickleball idea brought forward by our residents.”
“Third, and most exciting, is that this is the result of a grassroots effort by residents, people who wanted this complex. They put their money where their mouth was by going out and raising over $100,000 in donations. It’s hard to say no to that. Obviously looking at the turnout here today, this is something that most people want.”
“This project is truly a community project. It is something for families and older generations, a place where people who want to be active can come and interact and spend time together. It also will enhance our reputation as a city where the people want to come back, work and hang out.”
“None of this happens without the commitment to fund this complex by Marilyn Hatley and city council. Without them it doesn’t happen,” Fabbri concluded.
Matt Gibbons thanked the design team on the project. “They first worked with the parks and recreation staff to get our vision for the project. Then they worked with our city leaders and the pickleball community letting them pass along their vision for the complex. All of that resulted in an awesome design.”
“But it’s not just pickleball courts. It’s a lawn, walking track, a new playground and a first-class restroom facility. It will be a true pickleball complex. We are fortunate to have a very passionate pickleball community. They went out and raised over $200,000. One of our courts will be a championship court. It will be right in the center of the complex. That court will have a beautiful awning structure over it for playing in all types of weather. Their money will be used for that structure. Thanks to the pickleball community for that,” Gibbons said.
Gibbons introduced Darry Del Corro, a pickleball enthusiast and driver of the effort to build the pickleball complex. Del Corro stated that after getting married to his beautiful wife he didn’t think that he would ever fall in love again. “But I was wrong. I fell in love with pickleball. Today we are here to celebrate “lady pickleball.”
“Our vision of her is coming to life in North Myrtle Beach. In her honor we are building 15 state of the art pickleball courts. These courts will put North Myrtle Beach pickleball on the map. You will be in awe over what we are building here.”
“In the very near future you will ‘oohs and ahs’, the sound of people laughing and having fun, all in the name of my second love- pickleball. I want to thank the city, the Parks and Recreation Department and the pickleball community for making all of this happen”, Del Corro said.
Gibbons thanked everyone for attending, reminded them about the “Pickleball with the Stars” event at the community center, and then joined in turning a shovel of dirt for the official groundbreaking.
