Pickleball Courts to be Built at Riverview Park, Riverfest Plans Underway

By Christopher Miller

WOODWARD TOWNSHIP – Township supervisors announced at their May meeting that the construction of Pickleball courts at Riverview Park will be commencing soon.

“We were collecting quotes for a while and we wanted to do it last fall when we had the paving contractor over, but the weather turned more quickly than we had hoped,” supervisor Kyle Coleman said.

“The project, paid for by grants, was in the works for the past five years and started before COVID, then pushed off again due to the pedestrian walkway project, but we secured bids for the work and we are proceeding as planned. The two courts will fit on a 60′ x 60′ pad.”

Riverfest plans are also being finalized, with the dates set for the 2025 event as June 26, 27, and 28.

“Duck Derby tickets are in and will be for sale at local locations like Puff N Snuff in Dunnstown, The Second Cup, our Township Building office, and from Township Supervisors,” Coleman said.

The highly anticipated Cardboard Boat Races are also back for 2025.

“Calling all local churches, youth groups, sports teams, Boy and Girl Scouts, and all others looking to have a good time cardboard boat racing. This event is being held to benefit two local youths, Skye Breon and Tucker Dorman for their medical needs,” an announcement on the Woodward Township Recreation Facebook page said.

Those interested in being a part of the boat races are encouraged to go to wsqvradio.com/extras/river-fest to download and print the entry form. Requirements include: wearing an appropriate-size fitting life preserver, wearing a whistle, river shoes, supplying oars and paddles (no motors), and boats being constructed solely of cardboard, duct take, and nontoxic glue and paint. The entry fee is $10/participant with registration starting at 10 a.m., judging at 11 a.m., and races starting at 12 p.m. Age groups range from 8-12 years, 13-17 years, 18-49 years, and 50+. Prices will be awarded for best boat design, best theme for boat and costume, and the Titanic Award for best sinker, along with race winners in each age group.

Also happening at Riverfest will be Campout for Kids, where radio personality Mark “The Shark” Schlesinger will camp out in a camper provided by Bill’s Happy Camper, broadcasting live throughout the event to raise funds for local children with medical needs.

“The community is encouraged to pledge money and make donations to support this great cause, with special events for kids in addition to the Riverfest festivities,” an announcement on WSQV’s website stated.

In other news, supervisors opened bids for stone and salt, approving prices for stone provided by Heidelberg and Hawbaker, along with salt from American Rock Salt.

Supervisors heard from resident Trudy Calhoun, concerning a neighbor reporting an unsafe structure on her property which caused a recent inspection of a shed to fail due to an ordinance violation.

The shed, which was recently repaired, was no longer considered to be in violation of township ordinances. However, Calhoun was concerned over who the tipster was and why they were trespassing on her property since the shed was not easily viewed from anywhere outside of her property line.

Submitting a “right to know” request was recommended by township supervisor Kyle Coleman.

Lastly, discussions were started concerning the request to purchase a replacement Utility Vehicle for Dunnstown Fire Company.

“The current vehicle is a 1999 Suburban and we use it for calls with lift assist, or trees down which we have been fortunate for these past few years,” Assistant Chief Brad Smith said. “The utility vehicle and brush truck are the most used in the fleet.”

Coleman added, saying that the current vehicle has over 200,000 miles on it and is approaching nearly 30 years old.

“Dunnstown Fire Company outfitted it for the work they needed it to do, replacing the vehicle with something better to serve the needs of the township and fire company is something we should do,” he said.

Smith gave details regarding the newer vehicle, a new GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab truck priced at $57,642 which includes a cap and slide-out tray and is “on the lot now.”

It was suggested that the township could loan the money to the fire company for the purchase of the utility vehicle, which the fire company then would use grant money intended for debt reduction to pay down the debt to the township, eliminating the need to take money out of the Fire Tax Fund.

“If you want no headaches with the vehicle, you might as well buy it brand new,” Coleman said, with supervisor Mike Fetzer adding that the fire company “has new members coming in.”