Rotary-backed project transforms Marland Heights courts
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WEIRTON -- The latest renovation to Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Park is ready to be unveiled.
The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation will host an unveiling at 10 a.m. Monday of the recently renovated pickleball and tennis courts at the park located on Marland Heights.
"We think when people see it, they’ll be blown away," said Weirton Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle. "The final result is just beautiful."
The renovation was announced last fall as part of a cooperative effort between Weirton Parks, the Weirton Rotary Club and the Weirton Pickleball Association to convert the courts to include dedicated space for both tennis and pickleball.
The final cost of the project was $75,000, according to Shingle, with $50,000 provided by the Weirton Rotary Club.
"Without their $50,000 pledge, we wouldn’t have been able to do it," he said.
Rotarians presented the initial $25,000 toward the project last November, with the full pledge providing the club with naming rights for the court. Shingle said signage will be installed to recognize the contribution.
The project included resurfacing the existing playing surface, adding new lines to mark off the different courts, a sealant layer, as well as new nets and fencing.
"We did some lighting improvements as well," Shingle noted.
The final product will feature one tennis court and four pickleball courts, with the design provided by the Weirton Pickleball Association.
Monday's ceremony is set to include representatives of Weirton Parks, Weirton Rotary and the Pickleball Association, as well as members of the city of Weirton's municipal administration. Shingle is hoping area residents, especially those in the local tennis and pickleball communities, also will attend.
The renovations had been an original part of Weirton Parks' first-phase plans for the park, but had to be put off because of a lack of available funding. That phase of updates, which was celebrated earlier this year, included construction of a new restroom facility, installation of new roofs on the park's three shelters, new lighting and paving.
Additional improvements are being designed for the future.