Fellers Foundation grant to enhance recreation opportunities

The New Concord Area Arts and Recreation District (NCAARD), in collaboration with the Village of New Concord and the 2024 Ohio University Sport & Lifestyle Studies (SLS) Capstone class, is thrilled to announce the receipt of a grant from the Robert E. and Leona L. Fellers Foundation for $2,000 to introduce the sport of pickleball to the New Concord area.

Pickleball, an exciting sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is rapidly gaining popularity nationwide, with over 1,000 new pickleball locations established in the past year. This grant will fund the addition of pickleball markings and equipment to an existing basketball court in New Concord. The court will feature easily moveable nets, ensuring it remains a versatile space for both basketball and pickleball. Additionally, NCAARD will offer instructional clinics to introduce this engaging sport to the community. Thanks to the generous support from the Fellers Foundation, NCAARD will also purchase paddles and balls for community members to borrow.

The grant application was developed and submitted by the Sport and Lifestyle Studies (SLS) students from Ohio University's Eastern, Lancaster, and Zanesville Regional campuses. The SLS program is a versatile major that prepares students to promote recreation and well-being for people of all ages. This service-learning project enabled these students, all passionate about physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, to enhance outdoor recreation options in the New Concord area. The new pickleball court is set to become a community hub, encouraging physical activity and fostering community engagement among residents of all ages.

About NCAARD: 
Our Mission: Engage…Inspire…Educate 
Through the support of the Village of New Concord, Muskingum University, and the East Muskingum School District, NCAARD proudly offers activities, programs, and events to serve the Village and surrounding communities. We strive to bring rich and diverse programming in arts and recreation to engage, inspire, and educate people of all ages. 

About the Fellers Foundation: 
The Robert E. Fellers and Leona L. Fellers Foundation Trust was created through the generosity of Robert and Leona Fellers, who desired a tangible way to continue to enhance their community and surrounding areas after their deaths. The trust specifically states that their goal is to promote the greater good of society through charitable works and educational opportunities in the regional area of Muskingum, Perry, Guernsey, and Licking Counties of Ohio and is to include individuals, charitable and non-profit organizations whose goals and aspirations exemplify improving these communities.

For more information about the Sport and Lifestyle Studies program at Ohio University Zanesville, please visit the SLS program page or set up a time to connect with Katie Wilson to learn more about this program.

For more information about the new court opportunity, contact 
Jennifer Lyle 
Mayor, Village of New Concord 
(740) 826-7671 | jlyle@newconcord-oh.gov 

Mary Beth Caudill 
Program Director, New Concord Area Arts and Recreation District (NCAARD) 
(740) 291-7274 | ncaard@newconcord-oh.gov 

Kathy Normansell M.Ed. 
Sport and Lifestyle Studies (SLS) Program Coordinator & Professor of Instruction 
Ohio University Zanesville 
(740) 588-1430 | normanse@ohio.edu