Huber Heights board reviews senior center opening, playground repairs, pickleball clinics and Arbor Day plans

Huber Heights Parks & Recreation participants heard updates on the newly opened Huber Heights Senior Center, plans for youth sports clinics, the temporary closure of Shoal Gate playground and a budgeted replacement for Cottonwood playground, and set an Arbor Day tree/plant giveaway date.

The senior center opened recently at a YMCA-connected location, and the board was thanked for attending the facility's opening. The center is open to people age 50 and older for an annual $20 membership; spouses younger than 50 may join if their spouse is 50 and also joins, participants said. Staff reported they are coordinating volunteer support and programming with the senior board and other partners.

Board members discussed youth programming, including a free pickleball clinic for teenagers that staff said will begin sometime after mid-March and will be held on a Saturday morning once basketball and volleyball seasons at the Y conclude. Staff said volunteers who regularly play pickleball at the Y will lead the clinic, marketing will be provided and the event will be capped at the number of participants the program can safely take. Separately, staff and board members discussed planning for a youth basketball tournament and the possibility of a 3-on-3 grand-opening event for a new sport-court area.

Playground maintenance and replacements were a focus. Staff reported Shoal Gate playground is closed because of a subsurface surfacing failure that has created a sinkage hazard; the site will remain closed until weather is consistently warmer (about 50 degrees) so repairs can be completed. In addition, the board was told the Cottonwood playground is budgeted for replacement this year with a different equipment provider; staff said they will present design options for feedback when available.

The board also discussed a proposed visit to a multisport court supplier in Monroe to review court options for the community park adjacent to the pickleball courts. Staff said the showroom is about a 45-minute drive and that they will circulate dates to the board and attempt to schedule a time during or shortly after working hours that members can attend.

On community events, staff outlined preliminary plans for the city's participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and noted that the city’s Star Spangled Heights celebration will fall on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The board discussed volunteer-led contributions, including sewing-group participation and other programming ideas. The group also set a date for the city tree/plant giveaway around Arbor Day; April 5 was identified as the preferred date and the senior center parking area or adjacent lot was suggested as a possible distribution site to allow an indoor contingency for rain.

Administrative business included approval of the minutes from the November meeting. With no objections, the minutes were approved as written.

Board members and staff agreed to return with more detailed timelines, cost estimates and marketing materials for the playground replacement, multisport court visit, youth sports events and the tree giveaway. Staff emphasized that the Shoal Gate playground will remain closed until repairs can be completed in appropriate weather conditions and that Cottonwood replacement designs will be shared for board input before procurement.