Ronceverte opens new pickleball courts

By RealWV staff with video by Jenny Harnish,

RONCEVERTE, W.Va. — Last Friday afternoon, the City of Ronceverte held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the town’s six new pickleball courts, located adjacent to Island Park and along the railroad tracks behind Monroe Avenue.

“This property actually has a lot of history here in Ronceverte,” said Audrey Sampson with Greenbrier Environmental Group. “It used to be a residential structure. It has a lot of manufacturing and wholesale grocery history. Then in 2009 the city took over the property.”

Ronceverte applied for and received a a federal environmental cleanup grant. “We went through the DEP’s voluntary remediation program to clean up the property toa safe, functional reuse, which ended up being the courts, what you see today,” Sampson shared.

Additional funding for the project came from the Marie Leist Foundation and the James Peyton Fund.

The courts were painted orange and black to honor the local school colors for the Ronceverte Bulldogs. They are the third set of pickleball courts in Greenbrier County, joining those at Hollowell Park in Lewisburg and the newest courts in Rainelle. Sampson says pickleball is a growing sport that is a good fit for the area’s residents.

“It’s a very popular, growing sport,” Sampson said. “Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd of people waiting to play down here as well.”

The courts are open daily from daylight until dusk. Players are asked to keep the gates closed, keep dogs off the courts, keep food and drink on the outside, and wear appropriate, non-marking footwear.

Those wishing to play with others can join “Ronceverte Pickleball Group” via the GroupMe chat to arrange games.