Your input is needed: Citizens of Cadillac have 30 days to voice opinion about recreational plan

CADILLAC — Three mornings a week, there is a good chance you’d see up to 20 senior citizens out on the tennis courts at Diggins Hill.

As soon as the snow melts and the temperatures get up to 40 degrees — usually in April — the group is out there keeping their reflexes and body movements sharp.

Throughout the summer and into October, the dedicated group of seniors battle the elements.

“There are a lot of us who play mixed doubles — we fill all four courts,” said Jim Canyon, who has played with the group for many years. “Besides the fact that they need repair, they are a nice place to play.

“The scenery is beautiful with the trees around it and there are hills to the north and west that protect the area from the wind. The way the courts are set up is right. Many (in other areas) are lined up the wrong way.”

In the Cadillac city recreation plan, there is a proposal to turn the tennis courts at Diggins Hill into pickleball courts. Six requests were made to include the pickleball court option in the rec plan, said Cadillac Area Community Director Jerry Adams.

“Since then, a few people indicated they would like to see the tennis courts retained,” Adams said. “Right now, the rec plan proposes pickleball courts. Our goal is for the rec plan is to reflect the needs and desires of the community at large. We are going to wait to bring it to council so we can give additional opportunity for people’s comments.”

One of the problems with keeping the tennis courts is the cost to maintain them, said Adams. It could cost as much as $60,000.

“If we decided to go ahead with pickleball courts, we could get grant money and it would cost quite a bit less,” he said. “If we go ahead and keep the tennis courts, we are going to have to come up with outside funding.”

With Diggins Hill being a historic area, Canyon has hopes that there may be historical grants available.

“Diggins Hill is part of Cadillac’s history — it goes back before 1930,” he said. “The facility had a sliding hill, tow rope, a skating rink, warming house — there was even a semi-pro hockey team years and years ago. There is a lot of history there. Maybe we could go that route when looking for grants.”

With the large group of senior citizens who play there every week, he suggested looking for grants for senior citizens. He said tennis is a good activity for seniors to maintain their health and there may be a grant available.

The public hearing for the rec plan is scheduled for Aug. 20. In the meantime, people can voice their opinions of the plan by e-mailing Adams at planning@cadillac-mi.net or call him at 775-0181, ext. 101.

The plan can be viewed at the Cadillac Municipal Building or see it online at www.cadillac-mi.net.

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Rec plan draft

The following is the proposed five-year recreation plan done jointly with the city of Cadillac and Cadillac Area Public Schools.

For more detailed information, people can read the plan at the Cadillac Municipal Building or see it online at www.cadillac-mi.net.

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