Carolina's premiere public pickleball facility and more: Wilson is upping the game
Wilson's progressive thinking and continued investments in its parks, facilities and greenways make it a model for Carolina cities.
Posted — UpdatedFrom the rolling green hills of Pinehurst to the basketball legend of Tobacco Road, North Carolina loves its sports. And as one of the few states that can boast mountains and coastline (and a mountain-to-sea trail), Carolinians love their parks.
The love of nature and the love of sport are hardwired into our DNA. And, perhaps no municipality respects and understands that more than the City of Wilson. From a powerhouse parks and recreation department with steady leadership, to continued investments in progressive and proactive opportunities, Wilson is a model for any city who wants to encourage its residents to get out and play. Here are five of the top ways the Wilson Parks & Recreation Department is upping its game.
David Lee, Parks & Rec Director said, “When we built the first three pickleball courts three years ago, no one knew what it was. We got laughed at when we said it would be one of the activities that helped us get a grant. Within three months, we realized we didn’t build enough!”
Now, with the planned development of 14 pickle ball courts, 6 tennis courts and 6 multipurpose courts which can double as pickle ball courts, Wilson is on the verge of creating the largest public pickleball site in North Carolina. As the sport continues to explode, Lee hopes that Wilson will become the premier place people choose for statewide and national pickleball events.
Programs Supervisor Braxton Patterson said, “Pickleball is getting younger by the day. Several years ago the average age of players was late 40s or 50s, now, the average age is in the 20s. There are college club teams and national tournaments. I could see the NCAA taking it on and even becoming a high school sport. I could see a big future so it's exciting to be jumping ahead and on the front edge.”
The courts will be housed in the already elite sports complex, Gillette Athletic Complex. The $4.2 million dollar expansion, funded by the Wilson County Tourism Development Authority, will also include areas for croquet, shuffleboard, horseshoes and bocce ball.
Also housed at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex is the Miracle Field. This specially-designed baseball field allows for children of all ages to play America’s pastime regardless of any intellectual or physical disability.
Wilson has long been known for its impressive Little League program and Gillette has attracted players from around the state for tournaments, but with the Miracle Field, the game is opened up to players who could never participate before.
Flat surfaces, level bases, adjusted distances and other important factors allow for walkers, wheelchairs and unsteady gaits to live their dreams of traveling the diamond. The field was a full-community effort. One million dollars, of the $1.4 million needed, was raised from within the Wilson community. The field will be the only one of its kind for a large part of Eastern North Carolina and it creates an incredible opportunity to bring a wider community together. “I can’t wait for a couple years down the road to see the impact this field has on the community,” said Lee.
Inspired by the continued success and participation at Lake Wilson Park, the Wilson Parks & Recreation department has embarked on a plan to create an outdoor space that can provide additional opportunities.
Dale Edmonds, Parks Manager, said, “Wiggins Mill Park will have playgrounds, walking trails, picnic tables and more. It’s somewhere a family can go together and enjoy the space. Lake Wilson is one of the biggest home runs we’ve ever had, but space is limited. Wiggins Mill Park lets us expand on that [success].”
The waterfront park also offers a boat launch, kayak rentals, shelters and restrooms with continued ideas in the works.
While talking about multi-million dollar projects and state-of-the-art facilities may be flashy, they don’t mean much unless leaders provide opportunities for programming that is meaningful and fun.
In addition to annual events that abound in Wilson like triathlons, boat races, adult Easter egg hunts and more, Wilson Parks & Rec is embracing The Year of the Trail.
Through all the innovations and updates, there is one thing that remains the same and is vital to the success of Wilson’s parks & recreation department.
“We’ve made a conscious effort that the citizens know that all this is theirs first,” said Richard Frazier, Recreation Manager. While leaders and residents know that tourism and tournaments are important for local business, there is a balance that must be maintained. Frazier continued, “We take care of our people and make sure they’re not inconvenienced with tourism. We started with that premise and it’s working very well. Our community is proud of the facilities we have and the events we can host.”
Frazier exemplified this by sharing a story of a visiting soccer team that was in a local restaurant. A Wilson resident picked up the tab for the entire team. An act that made an indelible mark on every single parent there. “We hear those stories all the time because, well, welcome to Wilson,” smiled Frazier.
It is the kind of symbiosis and return on investment that most parks and recreation departments can only dream about. And while it’s their job, what really keeps the leadership continually searching for ways they can improve, are the stories they see playing out and the stories that haven’t been written yet.
Edmonds explained, “When we host baseball tournaments and a kid runs out of the tunnel and sees the big logo for the first time, they go crazy, it’s so cool to see. After we built Rotary Park, a woman, who is paraplegic, could go with her daughter and grandkids, go to an ADA accessible park, sit in the shade and watch them play. I don’t know what the next story’s going to be. Some of those things you can’t script and Hollywood can’t come up with them, but when you see it, it touches you forever.”
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