T-L Photo/KAILEY CARPINO Bellaire Citizens’ Action Group President James Williams presents several local businesses with certificates of appreciation at Thursday’s council meeting.

BELLAIRE — The increasingly popular sport of pickleball topped Bellaire Village Council’s agenda on Thursday, when members discussed the possibility of building new recreation facilities.

Resident and school board member Bill Marinelli talked to council about building pickleball courts in Bellaire. He explained that pickleball is a growing sport for all ages that is similar to tennis.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America,” he said.

Marinelli said many local pickleball courts are either in bad shape or are not regulation courts.

He said the sport can be played year-round, and he understands that building indoor courts would be more expensive but said indoor courts are scarce in the area.

Marinelli said the village can also make some money from the courts. He suggested that the village host tournaments and charge entry fees or have paid memberships to use the courts.

He said the village needs more activities for youth, and he noted that many of the attractions in Bellaire that he frequented as a youth are no longer open.

Marinelli asserted that Bellaire has “nothing to offer” when it comes to activities and entertainment. He believes pickleball courts will bring more people into Bellaire.

“This is an opportunity to get in on the bottom floor,” he said.

Marinelli said he hopes to improve Bellaire’s image as well as provide a fun and healthy activity for residents to enjoy.

Marinelli explained that the creators of pickleball had a dog named Pickle who would retrieve the ball, and that is where the sport gets its name.

Following Marinelli’s presentation, Councilwoman Elizabeth Dugmore said she highly recommends that the village create a space for residents to play pickleball.

Councilman Jerry Fisher said the finance committee discussed the idea at its last meeting, and the committee is looking into getting grant money for the project. He said the main problem is finding a location for the courts.

Marinelli said six courts are needed to host a pickleball tournament. Each court must be 44 feet long and 20 feet wide to be regulation size.

Fisher said that the committee is also looking into building an amphitheater and is applying for grants for that project as well. He said many other local villages and cities have amphitheaters, and he hopes that building one in Bellaire will bring people into the village.

All members of council voted to allot $5,000 to engineer plans for the pickleball courts and amphitheater. Once the plans are complete, village leaders can determine what grants they can apply for.

In other news, the Bellaire Citizens’ Action Group presented several local businesses with certificates of appreciation. The businesses recognized were Lil’ Gerardos, Hughes Office Equipment, Belmont Savings Bank, Bellaire High School, Dairy Queen, Bauknecht-Altmeyer Funeral Home and Bellaire Chapel, Bellaire Burger King, Bellaire Public Library, American Legion Post 52 and National Imperial Glass Museum.

Group member Kara Baker said the group recognized these businesses for “their hard work and assistance in beautifying the town” this year.

Group President James Williams said the businesses have done a great job maintaining their properties. Williams signed each framed certificate. BCAG members plan to hand-deliver the certificates to businesses who did not attend the meeting.

“We are hoping this inspires other businesses and helps the existing honorees to keep the town looking nice,” Baker said.

Members of the organization also include Carol Williams, Pat Kniesner, Donald Maupin, Douglas Potts, Andrea Hohn Nutter, Jeanne Busack and Cheri Miller.

Dugmore said that she wanted to give a “big thank you” to James and Carol Williams.

Williams also said the group is looking for more volunteers to help keep the village looking its best. He said anyone interested can attend its meetings, which are held at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month starting in March at the veterans administration building.

During the council meeting, Mayor Edward Marling said the village tree lighting and Christmas parade went well. Police Chief J.J. Watson said this was the 52nd year for the parade.

“We did real good on that,” Marling said.

Janet Richardson, councilwoman at large, was absent from the meeting.

Council plans to have its final meeting this year at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at the municipal building. The public is welcome to attend.