Thirty pickleball courts have been added to Fort Wayne’s city parks after a $180,881 project resurfaced and converted courts at Foster, Lakeside, Hamilton, and Kettler parks. Tillman Park tennis courts were also restriped to accommodate pickleball.
Along with resurfacing, amenities include lighting at Foster Park, fencing at Hamilton Park with lighting to come for Lakeside Park in 2023.
With these 30 new courts, there are now a total of 36 outdoor courts and six indoor at eight parks throughout the city.
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation director Steve McDaniel says the sport has seen a 40 percent increase the U.S. in the last two years, including serious players 55 and older and a growing segment of players under 24.
Brothers Grimm play in Kendallville
Oak Farm Montessori School will present The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon by Don Zolidis at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct.23, at the Community Learning Center, 401 E. Diamond St. in Kendallville.
A cast of 14 elementary through high school students present this fast-paced parody that includes audience participation in which two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 Brothers Grimm folk tales, including classics like Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella, and The Frog Prince, as well as some more bizarre and obscure stories like The Girl with No Hands.
“It’s a hysterical rendition of the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales with a fun twist,” director Kavin Ley said. “It’ll have you laughing for sure.”
Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students and are available at the door. Concessions will also be sold. All ticket and concession sales will be cash only.
Plenty of trunk or treats to go around
Families can find a number of trunk or treat events around Fort Wayne this week, including:
Thursday, Oct. 20 — ABA Institute, 2270 Lake Ave., 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 21 — Parkview Family YMCA, 10001 Dawson Creek Blvd., 5 p.m.; DeHaven Chevrolet, 5200 Illinois Road, 5 p.m.; Glenbrook Rehabilitation Center and Skilled Nursing Center, 3811 Parnell Ave., 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22 — Robinson Chapel UMC, 12707 Tonkel Road, 5 p.m.; Coldwater Centre, 8804 Coldwater Road, 6 p.m.; Basche’s Martial Arts, 6041 N. Clinton St., 6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 23 — Jorgensen Family YMCA, 10313 Aboite Center Road, 2 p.m.; The Parlor, 3947 Parnell Avenue, 3:30 p.m.; Electric Works, 1030 Swinney Ave., 4 p.m.; JoAnn Plaza 601 Noble Drive, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 25 — Haunted Village, 6701 S. Anthony Blvd., 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 26 — Waynedale Elementary, 7201 Elzey St., 5 p.m.; Lifehouse Church, West Cedar Canyons Road, 6 p.m.; Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 4700 Vance Ave., 6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 27 — Glenbrook Dodge Chrysler Jeep, 100 Coliseum Blvd. W., 4 p.m.; Coventry Meadows Assisted Living, 7833 W. Jefferson Blvd., 5 p.m.; Possibilities Northeast Pediatric Therapy and Autism Services, 4935 Hillegas Road, 5 p.m.; Turnstone Center for Turnstone Center for Children & Adult with Disabilities, 3320 N. Clinton St., 5 p.m.; Granite Ridge Builders, 1020 Woodland Plaza Run, 5:30 p.m.; and Bryan Wellness Community, 1661 Beacon St., 6 p.m.
Civic Theatre welcomes new staff
The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre has hired several members of their production staff, including Ashley Brassell as scenic artist and volunteer coordinator, Andrew Holderfield as technical director and lighting designer, Sarah Moloney as costume designer, and Anna Slotterback as assistant costumer and rental manager.
Things get wild at Children’s Zoo
Daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Oct. 30, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is holding its annual Wild Zoo Halloween. Special events include animal enrichment shows, a hay bale maze, a trail of treats, and more. Costumes are welcome, but guests older than 13 may not wear costume masks or hoods, and all costumes are subject to approval. This event is free with Zoo admission.
Special days include Witch and Wizard Day (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 22), Galactic Day (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 23), Monster Mash Dance Party (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Oct. 29), and Pumpkin Day (Oct. 30), which will include a pumpkin stomp and chomp animal enrichment and a Guess the Pumpkin Weight game.
