In 2017, the Cranberry Township Community Chest marked its 40th anniversary with a bold vision: creating a recreational complex to inspire activity, bring people together, and meet the community's evolving needs.
The result was the SportsCourts and Community Garden at Graham Park, the organization’s largest Project of the Year at the time, bringing ‘first-of-its-kind’ courts to Cranberry Township. Eight pickleball courts, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, three bocce courts, two shuffleboard courts, two horseshoe courts, and two cornhole courts were built as part of the $750,000 project. The project also included a new restroom and additional handicapped-accessible parking at the park.
The Rise of Pickleball
This project was the first time pickleball courts were brought to Cranberry Township, launching the sport into the spotlight. It helped create the Cranberry Township Pickleball Association, supporting over 1,900 members and now 19 courts at Graham Park. Even more so, it allowed the facility to expand for nighttime play during the warm months and indoor play through an inflatable dome during the winter months. The facility at Graham Park is one of the largest dedicated pickleball facilities in Western Pennsylvania.
More than Pickleball
CTCC’s 2017 Project of the Year did more than bring pickleball to Cranberry Township. The SportsCourts, located near Graham Park's entrance, also includes a Community Garden, currently supported by the Southern Butler County Garden Club. Club members have planted bulbs, added and dedicated a Blue Star by Way Memorial Marker, and donated a garden shed through service projects at the Community Garden.
This was the second Project of the Year that focused on Graham Park, the first of which happened a year earlier. The 2016 project gave Miracle League Field a makeover, complete with field resurfacing and the construction of a baseball-themed playground.