BELLAIRE, Ohio – The Village of Bellaire is set to break ground Monday, May 4 on a long-anticipated recreation and entertainment complex that has been years in the making, with actual construction scheduled to begin June 15.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 4.
The complex will be built on a five-acre parcel on Route 149, also known as 26th Street, next to ICR Equipment Rental and Hardware Store. The village-owned land previously served as one of the baseball fields at the existing complex but has gone unused for several years. The tee-ball infield will remain intact so the Baseball Association can continue youth instruction.
At the heart of the complex is an eight-court, tournament-ready pickleball facility featuring four covered courts and four open courts. The project also includes a performance stage, a new concession stand, a parking lot, electrical and lighting infrastructure, and a walking trail around the perimeter designed to connect with future trail plans. A new entrance off Route 149 will provide direct access to the facility.
The total project budget is $1,668,912, funded primarily through two grants. The village secured $1,468,912 through the federal AMLER Grant — the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program — which is reserved for revitalizing and repurposing previously mined properties. Bellaire’s Route 149 location qualified on both the land use and poverty demographics requirements. The AMLER award was announced in December 2024. An additional $200,000 came through the State Capital Budget Fund in 2024, secured with the assistance of Senator Brian Chavez.
The 2025 calendar year was devoted to clearing a required National Environmental Policy Act study — a lengthy federal process mandated for AMLER grant recipients — with final approval received from the U.S. Department of Interior on January 29 of this year. Civil engineering for the facility is complete, with architectural and electrical engineering work expected to wrap up in May.
Once constructed, the village plans to lease the pickleball facility to the Bellaire Pickleball Association, which will manage daily court operations. The BPA’s plans include establishing a pickleball program with local schools, offering free lessons, providing scheduled court time to a local recovery center, and hosting tournaments to generate revenue for the village. Memberships will be required, with discounted rates for all Bellaire residents.
The performance stage will be managed by the village administration and will serve as a venue for outside entertainment, local talent, school performances, and community events. The concession stand will serve both the pickleball facility and the performance stage.
The project has been in development since June 2022. The goal from the start was to create a facility that serves village residents while also drawing visitors and players from outside the area. Village council, including councilwoman Janet Richardson, Grant Writer Phyllis Barnhart, late Mayor Edward Marling, and Bill Marinelli, president of the Bellaire Pickleball Association were instrumental in developing the complex.
The public is invited to the Monday morning groundbreaking ceremony.
