Pickerington June/July 2025

pickerington magazine

1335 Dublin Rd., Ste. 101C Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com

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Pickerington Magazine is published in February, April, June, August, October and December. Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Pickerington, Ohio. For advertising information or bulk purchases, call 614-572-1240. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Pickerington Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2025

Photo courtesy of Hungry City Grille and Sprits

pickerington community calendar

june/july 2025

Thursdays, June-Sept.

Farmers’ Market

4-7 p.m.

89 N. Center St. www.pickeringtonvillage.com

Thurs., June 5 & July 3

Live Music – Zane from Blue Spectrum

6-8 p.m.

DogTap Columbus 96 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester www.bluespectrumband.com

Fri., June 6

Summer Reading Book Sale

9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Pickerington Main Library 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Sat., June 7

‘90s Block Party 5-8 p.m.

AHA! A Hands-On Adventure Museum 1708 River Valley Cir. S., Lancaster www.aha4kids.org

Sat., June 7 & 14

Goat Yoga

9 a.m.

Hidden Acres Legacy Farm 7278 Reynoldsburg-Baltimore Rd. www.hiddenacreslegacyfarm.com

Sun., June 8 & 29

Focus on Ferns

1-3 p.m.

Wahkeena Nature Preserve 2200 Pump Station Rd., Sugar Grove www.fairfieldcountyparks.org

Wed., June 11 & July 9

Wise Walkers – Senior Hiking Group

9-11 a.m.

June 11: Keller-Kirn Park, 1601 N. High St., Lancaster July 9: Wahkeena Nature Preserve, 2200 Pump Station Rd., Sugar Grove www.fairfieldcountyparks.org

Thurs., June 12 & July 10

Pickerington Village Shop Hop 4-8 p.m.

Olde Pickerington Village 21 Lockville Rd. www.visitfairfieldcounty.org

Wed., June 18

Catch an Art Thief

1-2 p.m.

Pickerington Main Library 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Thurs., June 19

Juneteenth

Sat., June 21

Pickerington Downsizing & Senior Care Expo

10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Grace Fellowship 1449 Refugee Rd. www.pickeringtonchamber.com/seniors

Sat., June 21

The Daco Gala 6-9 p.m.

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio 145 E. Main St., Lancaster www.decartsohio.org

Tues., June 24

Bright Star Children’s Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz 1-2 p.m.

Pickerington Main Library 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Fri., June 27

Friday Night Flick: Moana 2 Dusk

Sycamore Creek Park Amphitheater 481 Hereford Dr. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Sun., June 29

Summer Concert Series – Heat Wave: Music of Linda Ronstadt 6:30-8 p.m.

Sycamore Creek Park Amphitheater 481 Hereford Dr. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Thurs., July 3

Fourth of July Fireworks 10 p.m.

Pickerington High School Central 300 Opportunity Way www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Fri., July 4

Fourth of July Parade 10 a.m.

Olde Pickerington Village www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Tues., July 8

Picture Perfect Ranch

Petting Zoo 1-3 p.m.

Pickerington Main Library 201 Opportunity Way www.pickeringtonlibrary.org

Thurs.-Sat., July 10-12

Picktown Palooza

Thurs.: 4:30-11 p.m.

Fri.: 4:30 p.m.-midnight Sat.: 2 p.m.-midnight

Pickerington Central High School 300 Opportunity Way www.picktownpalooza.org

Picktown Palooza

Courtesy of Tong Photography

July 11-13, 18-20

Pickerington Community Theatre presents Shrek The Musical Fridays: 8 p.m.

Saturdays: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays: 2 p.m.

Wigwam Event Center, 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. N.W. www.pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.org

Sat., July 19

Bubble Run

9-11:15 a.m.

Pickerington Church of the Nazarene 11775 Pickerington Rd. www.kidslinked.com

Sun., July 20

Summer Concert Series: The Big Badd

6:30-8 p.m.

Sycamore Creek Park Amphitheater 481 Hereford Dr. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Fri.-Sat., July 25-26

Canal Winchester Blues & Ribfest

Fri.: 5-11 p.m.

Sat.: noon-11 p.m.

Historic Downtown Canal Winchester www.bluesandribfest.com

Sat., July 26

Youth Fishing Derby

9:30-11 a.m.

Willow Pond Park 299 Pruden Dr. www.ci.pickerington.oh.us

Save the Date

Sat., Aug 2

Pickerington Murder Mystery Night

4-8 p.m.

Olde Pickerington Village, 13 W. Columbus St. and locations throughout the village www.pickeringtonchamber.com

Canal Winchester Blues & Ribfest

Courtesy of Karen Stiles

PICKERINGTON

Grand Marshals Galore

We’re going to need a bigger float! The City of Pickerington’s July 4th parade will have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Grand Marshals this year.

Mayor Lee Gray first asked the Pickerington members of The Ohio State University football team and marching band if they would like to serve as Grand Marshals in recognition of their contributions to the 2025 National Championship season. Five football players and seven TBDBITL members graduated from PLSD – the most from any community in Ohio.

The cheerleaders from both Pickerington Central and Pickerington North High Schools were next asked to share in the grand marshal honors. On Feb. 23, both competition cheer squads competed for a state title in the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators championship. The Tigers won in the Game Day Building category and the Panthers won in the Game Day NonBuilding category. Both squads were recognized at a City Council meeting.

The fourth grand marshal will be members of the Pickerington Central girls’ basketball team. The Lady Tigers won the 2025 OHSAA state title, defeating Cincinnati Princeton, 4744. It is the eighth girls’ basketball title in school history – tied for a state record.

Four groups of student athletes and student musicians. Four reasons to celebrate their accomplishments. See you at the parade!

L-R: Ryan Ouimet, Spencer Hurt, Lorenzo Styles, Josh Mason, Joey Speidel, Jackson Dilts, Owen Kovach, Jack Sawyer, Max Lomonico, Andrew Dhume, Sonny Styles and Ty Hamilton

The 2025 OHSAA Division I Girls Basketball Champions

Members of the PHSC and PHSN competition cheerleading teams at the April 15 Pickerington City Council meeting

Courtesy of Jamison Speidel

Police Officer of the Year

Officer Nick Baehr was recently recognized by the Seton Parish Knights of Columbus as the Pickerington Police Department Officer of the Year. Baehr was hired in 2011 and served as a patrol officer until he took on the role as K9 Officer in 2016. Baehr and his partner Foe tracked suspects together, participated in drug sweeps, were used in SWAT situations and did community outreach. Foe retired at the end of 2024 and a new officer will take over the K9 duties. Congratulations on your much deserved award and thanks for all you do, Ofc. Baehr!

The fifth annual City of Pickerington Earth Day event was held April 25 and was considered a big success. Dozens of city employees, community volunteers and students canvassed Pickerington and collected more than 1,000 pounds of trash. A special thank you to everyone that donated their time and helped to make Pickerington an even more beautiful place to live.

Independence Day Celebrations

white and boom! Planning is underway for Pickerington’s annual Independence Day Celebration.

On Thursday, July 3 fireworks will be launched from Pickerington High School Central at approximately 10 p.m.

The parade will take place Friday, July 4 at 10 a.m. It begins on Opportunity Way, turns left on Lockville Road, turns left on Columbus Street, turns left on Hill Road and ends at Ridgeview STEM Junior High School. Any groups or individuals interested in participating should contact the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department at 614-833-2211 or by visiting www.pickerington.net. Registration is free.

Traveling?

Do you have travel plans this summer? If so, you can ask the Pickerington Police Department to do vacation checks while you’re away. Officers will do more frequent patrolling near your home when you request the service. To learn more, visit www.pickerington.net and fill out a vacation check form.

Red,

News and Information From Violet Township

Consider the Impact of Litter in our Streams

By: Lauren Vires, Wildlife & Education Specialist at Fairfield SWCD

Exploring local creeks and streams can be a fun and refreshing way to spend a hot summer afternoon. There’s so much wildlife to see, from the crawfish hiding beneath the cobblestone to the warblers flitting about the trees above.

Sometimes it’s nice to just sit and listen to the sound of trickling water. You can feel yourself start to relax just thinking about it… that is, until you notice an ugly pile of trash stuck along the bank.

The impact of litter in our streams can be detrimental to water quality and wildlife habitat. As litter accumulates in a stream, it floats on the surface, blocking sunlight and wildlife from accessing the water.

Some trash may be able to break down over time, but it will use up valuable oxygen in the process. Plastics will slowly fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, but they never leave the environment completely. In either case, toxins and chemicals can leach into the water from these materials.

These leached chemicals and microplastics may then be ingested by wildlife and move from one animal to another as they travel up the food chain. Predators at the top who have consumed several

contaminated meals over time may have health complications that follow.

Entanglement in stream litter is also an ever-present risk for our local wildlife. Think of a great blue heron wrapped up in old fishing lines, unable to fly away, or a turtle’s shell stuck in plastic rings from a six-pack, unable to grow properly.

How does so much litter end up in our streams?

While some of it is dumped with intention or left behind from laziness, much of it is accidental. Wind and rain are strong forces that pick up loose trash and eventually carry it to our streams or wash it down a storm drain that leads to the stream. Here are a few proactive steps you can take to prevent litter from entering our environment.

in the car door or toss a plastic bag in the back seat, it’s at risk of falling out or getting blown away the next time you open the door.

• Bag it before you trash it. When throwing away your trash, make sure that it’s bagged up before being placed in the dumpster. When the bags of trash are dumped from the bin to the truck, a strong breeze could whisk away any loose items.

• Secure the lid. Double-check that the lids are securely shut on dumpsters and trash bins. Use a bungee cord or heavy weight if needed to prevent the wind from blowing the lid open or a hungry raccoon from making a mess.

• Dispose of trash in the trash can. Always throw trash away in the proper receptacle. If you’re on a hike, don’t leave behind your snack wrapper. If you’ve put out a cigarette, don’t leave it on the ground. Take it a step further and think about spaces such as your car. When you stuff a straw wrapper

• Don’t release balloons. What goes up must come down. Balloons land in streams, get tangled in trees and even pose a risk to grazing livestock who may accidentally consume this deflated piece of rubber and ribbon after it has landed in the pasture.

• Reduce the creation of trash. Is there trash that we produce regularly that could be replaced with a reusable item? Reusable water bottles, food containers and straws are a great place to start. While these are great preventative measures, we’ve got a lot of work to do to clean up the litter already in our environment. Grab a bag, a pair of gloves and a few friends, and make an afternoon of cleaning up your local stream, street or park. Be safe, and avoid touching particularly nasty or sharp items without the proper protection. Keep your eyes open for other community cleanup events to get involved with as well. Picking up a little litter can make a big difference.

Photos courtesy of Fairfield County

Renewal Levy Fact Sheet

108 Miles of Roadway Maintained by Violet Township

0 New Tax Dollars Imposed by the November 2025 Road renewal levy

The funds will help pay for construction, resurfacing, repair of roads and culverts.

From the Fire Department

With summer in full swing, the Violet Township Fire Department would like to share some safety tips related to water and children. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Injury Research and Policy, more than 1,000 children die from drowning each year in the United States. Also, many more children suffer life-changing injuries annually. Drowning or near-drowning can occur quickly and within just inches of water. Diving accidents can happen in a split second. We would like to share some safety guidelines to follow when children are in or around water to help prevent this from happening.

Household Safety Tips

1. Please know that babies/infants/ children can drown in bathtubs, sinks, toilets and any other place where water can collect. Never leave a baby/infant/child alone when in an area where water is present. An adult should always be present.

2. Keep the bathroom door shut and place a safety cover over the knob to prevent little ones from entering on their own.

3. Baby bath seats do not prevent drowning from happening. If you are using a baby bath seat, never leave the child unattended. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone.

4. Keep toilet seats down and use toilet seat locks. Also, always remember to fully drain the bathtub when bathing is done.

Pool and Hot Tub Tips

1. According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, more than half of drownings could be prevented if a fence were in place around pools. If you have a pool, make sure to include a fence that is at least four feet high around your pool. Include a gate that latches and locks on its own for entry to the area.

2. Never leave children unattended in the pool. The responsible adult(s) must pay attention to the pool activity. Rid yourself of other distractions,

such as reading or talking on the phone.

3. An adult should always be in the water, within arm’s reach, with infants, toddlers or weak swimmers.

4. Sign your children up for swimming lessons as soon as you feel they are ready. Consider Infant Swimming Resource lessons for your children. Kids as young as 6 months can participate and be taught skills to save themselves.

5. Always use a hard cover on hot tubs and drain wading pools after each use.

6. For diving:

a. Provide visible depth indicators around the pool and never dive into cloudy or shallow water.

b. Educate children on proper diving techniques, especially when attempting new dives.

c. Educate children about diving board safety.

Lake, Pond and River Tips

1. Open water is much different than a pool. Even the best of swimmers may struggle with the currents. Always wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) that is Coast Guardapproved. Also, make sure the PFD is properly sized for the child.

2. Do not use swim aids like water wings or inner tubes as a substitute for an approved PFD.

3. Never walk on frozen water. There is no accurate way to tell how thin

the ice may be, and a child can fall through and drown quickly.

4. For diving:

a. Never dive into shallow or cloudy water.

b. Remove obstacles from lakes/ ponds/rivers before diving.

c. Make sure a lifeguard or adult (strong swimmer) is present.

Water safety is important throughout the year. Children are always around water, whether in the home or outside. Please take time to read and practice these safety tips. The fire department can be contacted at (614) 837-4123 or on the web at www.violet.oh.us, click the Government button, and then select Fire & EMS located in the middle of the dropdown menu. As always, we are your “Friends for Life.”

How to Reach Us

Fire Stations Phone 614-837-4123 Fire Chief: Michael Little #592: 8700 Refugee Rd. #591: 21 Lockville Rd. #593: 2365 Taylor Park Dr. Violet Township Service Center Phone: 614-382-5979 490 Center St. Pickerington, OH 43147

Pickerington Local Schools invites you to our 2025 Be Ready Resource Fair on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Lakeview Junior High School (12445 Ault Rd.).

This family-friendly event is your one-stop shop to prepare for the

school year. You’ll have the opportunity to meet our new Superintendent, Dr. Charles Smialek, connect with school and district staff and learn about clubs and extracurriculars.

Families can explore transportation routes, pick-up and drop-off times, programs for English Language

Learners, our free breakfast and lunch program and our new payment portal. Free backpacks and school supplies will be available while supplies last.

• Staggered start for grades K-12: Aug. 14-15

• First full day for grades 1-12: Monday, Aug. 18

• Kindergarten begins: Tuesday, Aug. 19

We hope to see you and your family there as we begin another exciting school year!

By Maisie Fitzmaurice

Fearless Fighter

Harvey Levine shares his heroic story

In an emergency, everyone reacts differently. Some freeze or hide, others panic and run, but the hero keeps their composure and swiftly takes action to keep themselves and others safe.

WWII veteran and 103-year-old Pickerington resident, Harvey Levine, is one of those heroes. His wartime act of inhibited bravery saved not only his life but the lives of others around him.

Called to serve

While he didn’t come from a military family, Levine always felt called to serve. As a young man in the early 1940s, he joined the Army Air Corps as the U.S. entered WWII. His first official mission as a bombardier-navigator took him to Europe, where he received a menacing call from the German Embassy.

“The phone rings. That is an oddity in itself. ‘Hello. This is the German Embassy calling. We want to welcome you to the fight. We will not harm you today, but watch out for tomorrow.’ How would you like a call like that? That’s the call I got, and I knew I had to fight. There was no question about it,” Levine says.

The housing where Levine and his group were staying was bombed and shot at every day by German soldiers and during in-flight missions, metal scraps and

A special reunion

Levine’s brother, Erwin also served in WWII. At one point, the two brothers hadn’t seen each other in three years, and neither knew if the other was alive and well, but they just so happened to be in England at the same place, at the same time.

“Somebody got off the plane and I recognized that, I said, ‘My God, I think that’s my brother,’ and it was amazing,” Levine says. “We both kind of were a little hysterical.”

other shrapnel often hit their planes. Although Levine was able to escape death a multitude of times, the fear of getting harmed or perishing was inescapable.

While fighting in a war in any capacity takes courage, Levine distinguished himself on one mission in particular. Following procedure, Levine’s B-24 bomber plane crew opened the bomb bay doors mid-air to drop activated weapons, but what happened next was unexpected.

One of the bombs did not release, and with the bomb stuck, the plane could not land. With no other options, Levine crawled from his position at the nose of the plane through a small opening and entered the bomb bay. With the bay doors open and the plane flying more than 25,000 feet in the air, all that separated Levine from a free-fall was a catwalk less than a foot in width.

While he didn’t realize at the time, the bomb bay where Levine had been diffusing and dislodging the bomb was at a temperature of -44 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving him with lifelong frostbite injuries.

“I froze my hands, my ears, my everything. I had to say that if I don’t diffuse the bomb, we don’t come back, and that’s why I did it,” he says. “I just decided somebody had to do it, and I decided it was going to be me.”

He struggled to get the bomb diffused, and in the process of dislodging it, the plane lost its hydraulic system, meaning it no

Photo courtesy of Ann Wolf Edelman

longer had brakes. While the crew considered jumping out of the plane, they ultimately decided to attempt landing.

At 140 miles per hour, the plane touched the 3-mile runway as the crew headed to the tail of the plane, dragging to create resistance and help the plane stop. After a hellish mission, everyone on board was shaken but alive.

Love and war

After his service, Levine returned to his hometown of Cleveland. There, he was joyfully reunited with his better half: his late wife, Sally.

The two met when they were 15 and were married in their early 20s while Levine was in military training.

“I remember the night I looked at her and I said, ‘Sally, do you want to get married?’ and she said, ‘Yes,’ I remember that that was an important part of our life,” he says.

Sally was Levine’s one true love, and they were married for more than 50 years before Sally passed in the early ‘90s. Levine describes her as a warm, accepting person who was liked by everyone she met.

Honor

Due to Levine’s courage, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other medals and distinctions.

“I knew I had a job to do, and if you do it to the best of your ability, that’s all you can do,” he says.

“(I was given) the biggest damn medal I ever saw. I kid, ‘How about a couple bucks or a cup of coffee?’ They said, ‘We don’t do that.’

would like you if you were a good per son…That’s the kind of person she was,” Levine says. “Everybody said, anywhere we went, they wanted to adopt her, seri ously. I took her to Hawaii; she wanted to go so bad, and they almost wouldn’t let her come back home.”

However, their oldest, Pamela, passed due to cancer in 2017.

Levine says.

Debra, had children of their own, and at 103, Levine has great-great-grandpa status.

the most inspiring people one could have the pleasure of knowing,” Ann says. “Throughout my for mative years, he exemplified exceptional kindness, provided unwavering support and show cased remarkable intellectual abilities, while also loving my mother unconditionally. He

Levine’s wife, Sandy

By Frances Denman

Out and About Ways to stay active outdoors this summer

Summer is in full swing, and every chance for sunlight is precious for those who spend much of their day indoors. However, the sunny season often comes with a busier social calendar and less time for exercise. You can ditch those old gym routines and soak in the sun while breaking a sweat with a range of outdoor activities for all ages.

Music and Movement

This new 2025 summer program organized by the City of Pickerington’s Parks & Recreation Department will welcome preschoolers to Sycamore Creek Park’s Hilltop Shelter June 2-23 for music lessons.

The series will be led by instructor Chloe Bennett and involves the children learning about and experimenting with various instruments while being encouraged to dance, sing, play and move to the music.

“They’ll go over a new instrument and the history of it and famous composers who used the instrument, and they’ll learn how to play it and sing songs and play some games as they learn,” Recreation Coordinator John Dennis says.

Classes will be held during golden hour from 5:30-6 p.m. for ages 3 and 4 and from 6:15-6:45 p.m. for ages 5 and 6, allowing the children to socialize and spend time outdoors.

The four-week program costs $46 and parents must accompany children ages 3 and 4 to their lessons. Parents of children ages 5 and 6 can enjoy a relaxing stroll in the park while their children play.

Pickerington Ponds

A community hub for park-goers, bikers, joggers and dog-walkers, Pickerington Ponds is a peaceful place to exercise while enjoying the park’s unique wildlife.

This space is home to marshes, swamps, uplands and of course, ponds, according to

the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Park Manager Shelly Richardson.

“It’s a wide range of habitats where you have grassland, water access and then woodland, so we get a big diversity of birds coming through,” Richardson says.

Visitors looking to clock some cardio can explore the 8-mile multi-use trail or the 4-mile unestablished trail for hiking or running. Those seeking a more serene pastime can enjoy premiere bird watching at one of the best spots to do so in central Ohio, where more than 250 bird species have been spotted.

Pickerington Ponds also sees little off-trail activity and has few road crossings, Richardson says, making it ideal for bikers or runners traveling between parks or towns.

Disc golf clinics

Columbus is home to a large community of disc golfers, a sport involving plastic discs being thrown into metal nets on an outdoor course.

The Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club is a local nonprofit organization seeking to promote the sport by designing disc golf courses throughout Columbus and central Ohio. The club organizes tournaments and events and strives to connect with local communities.

According to Dennis, Pickerington’s local disc golf course is constantly swarming with players, so the Parks & Recreation Department decided to create a new opportunity.

“We met with one of the local members of the Columbus Flyers and we asked

if they would be interested in doing a clinic,” Dennis says. “We figured it’d be a good idea to teach people how to throw and understand the basic rules of the game.”

The department’s disc golf clinics cost $25 and take place June 18-19 for beginners and June 25-26 for extra throwing practice. The clinics are led by members of the Columbus Flyers and designed for people who are unfamiliar with the sport and want to learn.

The youth clinic, ages 10-17, will meet at Soccer Field 3 at Sycamore Creek Park from 5:30-7 p.m., and adults 18 and older will meet at the same location from 7:15-8:15 p.m.

F3 Columbus focuses on men’s fitness and fellowship.

Courtesy of F3 Columbus

Pickerington Ponds

Courtesy

Goat yoga

Pickerington residents can enjoy goat yoga classes this summer while supporting a local business with a visit to Hidden Acres Legacy Farm. Classes are offered through June 14, but yoga-lovers can also book private lessons any time afterward on Hidden Acres Legacy Farm’s website.

All goat yoga classes are led by local certified instructors, taking participants through various exercises while five rambunctious baby goats snuggle, climb and play alongside them.

“We have people who come strictly for the yoga and people who come strictly for the goats, and we absolutely welcome a variety of both,” says Laura Coholich, owner of Hidden Acres Legacy Farm. “It’s in an outdoor setting located on our farm near our pond so you really get to engage with nature while also engaging with the goats.”

Sessions are an hour long and the difficulty level is decided by the participant, Coholich says. Though they’re geared toward beginners, class instructors can provide individual accommodations for more rigorous techniques.

“This is just really a family-friendly, fun opportunity for you to have genuine laughter and low-level fitness,” Coholich says.

Self-defense classes

Pickerington Parks and Recreation has partnered with seventh-level Kung Fu black belt Don Prozy in the past to or ganize Kung Fu classes for residents, and two of his summer 2025 courses feature new lessons.

For the first time, Prozy will be teaching a self-defense series tailored specifically towards women’s safety. Through these classes, which run from June 1-22 and June 29-July 20, participants will learn basic strikes, kicks and holds from a trained professional.

Men’s classes are also available on the same dates. The men’s series will include self-defense guidance as well as MMAstyle techniques and lessons in punches, knees, footwork and elbows. Men of all martial arts backgrounds and advancement can participate. Participants will meet at the basketball courts at Sycamore Creek Park, the women’s group meeting from 6-6:45 p.m. and the men’s group meeting from 7-7:45 p.m. Both series cost $87 for Pickerington residents.

F3 Columbus

F3 Columbus is a volunteer-based organization with a mission to grow and serve free fitness groups for men for the invigoration of community leadership, F3 member Jay Kerr says.

In Pickerington, F3 meets every Monday and Thursday, rain or shine, at 5:30 a.m. in the Victory Park parking lot. Workouts are peer-led by volunteer leaders, and men of all ages and fitness levels are encouraged to attend.

Kerr says F3 is perfect for men who want to get back into shape, as workouts are designed to encourage participants while simultaneously pushing them to do better. However, F3 is about more than just intense fitness journeys as fellowship is an equally important part of F3’s principles.

“Usually, the harder the thing, the stronger the bonds of friendship are,” Kerr says. “You end up forming strong friendships from it and positive friendships too, so this is a very positive group that’s there to support each other.”

The organization also raises money for charities by holding various events.

“This past fall we raised $20,000 for Her Song, which is a Tim Tebow foundation that helps victims of sex trafficking,” Kerr says.

Kerr says F3 spurred communities of women to form FIA, a similar organization catering to women’s fitness. FIA also offers free workout classes in Columbus and other communities surrounding Pickerington.

Frances Denman is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Hidden Acres Legacy Farm offers a new way to work out: goat yoga.

Courtesy of Laura Coholoich

By Rachel Karas

Cream of the Crop

Pickerington Creamery turns a new leaf after dairy-industry days

Although it originally opened in 1900 as a joint effort by local farmers, the Pickerington Creamery became a part of the Good family years later due to unique circumstances.

In 1913, Arthur J. Good was on his way to Parkersburg, West Virginia, for a possible job when his train was forced to stop short of its destination. Due to the Great Flood of Ohio, Good got off in Pickerington and got a job at the then Pierce Brothers Creamery.

He began his career at the Creamery by gathering cream from local farms to make the butter. Six years later, he bought the shop and renamed it the Pickerington Creamery.

At the height of its business in the late 1960s, the Creamery became one of the area’s largest employers and the state’s largest butter producer, churning up to 10 million pounds of butter per year.

The Creamery also owned Mayflower Farm and produced for several other labels and brands over the years.

During the outbreak of World War II in the 1940s, the Creamery built a dry milk plant to aid with government needs for dry milk for the troops, sending 70 percent of its product toward the cause.

Through all its successes, the Creamery was no stranger to challenges. In 1921, the facility was destroyed in a fire. Luckily, it was rebuilt bigger and better the next year with two 1,000-pound barrel churns and vat pasteurizers.

The Creamery faced a second fire decades later in 1977, but it was able to recover and rebuild.

Although the business was sold in 1972 to Beatrice Foods, the property still remains in the Good family name and houses Combustion Brewery & Taproom, which opened its doors in April 2017.

Rachel Karas is the lead editor at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at rkaras@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Photos courtesy of Pickerington-Violet Township HIstorical Society Courtesy of Combustion Brewery

Meant to Bee

Local pet makes history in dog agility

By Maggie Fipps

The successor in sports is a hard role to play. How does Ted Williams follow Babe Ruth, or Lebron James follow Michael Jordan? They must step out of the shadows of sports idols and establish their own legendary status.

Bee, a Shetland Sheepdog Jenn Crank coaches at IncrediPAWS in Pataskala, started her career following in the pawprints of Crank’s former trainee, P!nk, a Westminster Dog Show winner and local celebrity. P!nk won the 16" class for agility at the Westminster Dog Show three years in a row.

Because of P!nk’s tenacity, the decision to take her out of the ring was hard. Many times, as competition dogs age, they start to slow down and recovery becomes more difficult between competitions. However, P!nk ended her reign on the podium, retiring just after her 2020 Westminster Win.

Although P!nk left a powerful legacy, Bee is proving to be much more than just an average successor by taking up that championship mantle. Earlier this year, Bee won the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) National Agility Championship. If her path continues, she could be the first dog in the sport’s history to win all four national competitions.

“When your 3-year-old dog wins the most prestigious award, where do you go from there?” Crank says. “Then it’s like, ‘Okay, well, was that a fluke?’ Then she just kept doing it.”

Fido fate

Bee’s story with Crank almost ended before it even began. She was all set to be sent to an owner in Germany, but the deal fell through at the last minute. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Crank quickly realized that Bee was not

Courtesy of Chantal Cornelia

just an exceptional companion but also an exceptional athlete.

Bee got her name on second chances. “Her name is actually ‘Apex Meant to

Bee’ because we always just felt like she was meant to stay here in Ohio,” Crank says. However, her winning streak was always in her blood. Bee’s father, Swift, is one of the first dogs to medal internationally in the history of the sport. Crank says they thought it was impossible that Bee could ever top her father’s accomplishments, but again, Bee defied expectations.

Crank won her first title in 1994 when she was 6, so she can easily assess if a dog has the “it” factor. Dogs typically begin competing at 18 months, but most don’t produce results in competition until they are closer to 5 or 6. However, Bee and P!nk were born ready to compete.

“Bee and P!nk are very similar in that when you put them on the agility field, they’re all work,” Crank says. “They’re like, ‘Yes, let’s do it 110 percent right now.’”

Dog prodigy Bee was destined for greatness, and she has wasted no time cementing her name in the world of dog agility.

“She achieved so much so early,” Crank says. “She is 6 years old, and she has achieved more than I would have ever imagined a dog would in a lifetime.”

When Bee won Westminster in 2022, it felt like a fluke. She snuck in, qualifying on the last possible weekend. The duo was just hoping to get some experience and have a bit of fun, but Bee surprised Crank, winning Westminster and continuing to win across the circuit.

Crank has considered retiring at the top of her sport like P!nk, resting on her laurels and passing down her coaching to her son, who is showing real potential at age 10. Then again, when she considers leaving the sport she’s loved her whole life, she changes her mind.

For now, Crank and Bee will continue to make history by dominating the agility circuit and breaking the record books.

Maggie Fipps is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Bee takes gold at the AKC 2025 National Agility Championship

Photos courtesy of Jenn Crank

By Korrigan Craddock

Sweet Spots

Whether it’s morning, afternoon or night, Pickerington has a variety of treats to satisfy your cravings anytime of the day. Many of these sweet spots are family-owned, adding a sense of community to every bite.

Sweet start

If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth bright and early, there are a couple spots that can do just that.

Locally owned, Porters Coffee House has locations all over Pickerington. This spot can satisfy your cravings with coffee, pastries, sandwiches and made-to-order cakes by Cakes Creatively by Crystal. House favorites include Porter’s Pocket Candy, a blend of caramel and butterscotch, and the White House Mocha, a white chocolate mocha with a touch of caramel.

Sorso Coffee is owned by the Nevin Family, many of whom have been proud Pickerington locals for 19 years. This coffee shop offers a wide variety of beverages with and without coffee. Cool

Local sweet treats in Pickerington

off with one of its specialty frappes such as Birthday Surprise, flavored with buckeyes and chocolate covered strawberries. Or, try its signature tiramisu latte, which is a dessert in a cup.

If you’re looking for a sweet pick me up during the day, Perfectly Dipped is the place to check out. This shop is perfect for chocolate lovers with chocolate covered strawberries, grapes, pretzels and more.

Post-dinner sweets

Pickerington has a large selection of locally owned restaurants which also serve great treats, so don’t forget to check out these dessert menus.

Owned by two brothers and located across the street from Pickerington North High School, Cardo’s Pizza & Tavern offers fresh pizza and subs. But that’s not all – its dessert menu features funnel fries and New York-style cheesecake.

Hangry City Grille and Spirits, family-owned and -operated, offers a variety of creative sliders and appetizers. Finish the meal off with whoopie pies from local confectionary OMG Sweets. Flavors such as mint chocolate chip, buckeye and traditional chocolate with vanilla buttercream are perfect for a sweet ending to any meal. Feeling adventurous? Try the banana pudding shooter.

La Fogata Grille serves authentic Mexican cuisine made with fresh ingredients. Pair your meal with one of its refreshing margaritas, available in fruity flavors such as banana, mango and strawberry. Check out the restaurant’s Mexican dessert options afterward, from fried ice cream to sopapillas.

Cool off

With warm summer weather, sometimes all you want is something cold and sweet.

Celebrating 75 years, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream and transformed the former Sunoco station, a cornerstone of Olde Village, into its new location. Try some of Johnson’s many traditional flavors such as bubblegum and blueberry pie.

Crepe & Boba Station also offers a way to cool off with its refreshing milk and fruit boba tea. Pair the boba with signature crepe flavors such as marshmallow or brownie.

Korrigan Craddock at editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Sorso Coffee

Perfectly Dipped

Porters Coffee House

Crepe & Boba Station

Johnson’s Real Ice Cream

By Maggie Fipps

Spelling Success

Fourth-grade spelling bees compete for the regional round

Are you smarter than a fourth grader?

Pickerington area fourth graders showed their spelling smarts in class spelling bees held by the schools in January.

Armed with word lists and number signs around their necks, the students competed head-to-head, tackling challenging words such as ‘crescendo’ and ‘committee.’

In the end, four students took the crown at their respective schools – Pickerington Elementary, Sycamore Creek Elementary, Toll Gate Elementary and Tussing Elementary. The winning students shared their tips and strategies for spelling under pressure.

Caitlin Ampah – Pickerington Elementary

Caitlin Ampah from Pickerington Elementary won her spelling bee against 15 classmates. Ampah says the hardest word she had to spell was ‘flailed,’ but she did not flail in securing the victory.

“I was very thrilled and over the moon when I won,” Ampah says.

She used this opportunity to practice perseverance and hard work while studying her long word list.

“Just try your best and don’t listen to anyone who is against your decision,” Ampah says. “Practice hard, and even if you don’t win, that doesn’t mean you are a failure, or you won’t win the next time.”

Lincoln Murphy – Sycamore Creek Elementary

Twenty-seven fourth graders competed in Sycamore Creek Elementary’s spelling bee and Lincoln Murphy came out on top. Even when it got down to the final round, Murphy was in disbelief that his hard work paid off.

“When I was in the top two, I thought, ‘I don’t need to win’ because I had such a great competitor,” Murphy says.

Murphy had to spell two tough ‘c’ words, ‘crescendo’ and ‘catapult’, but thanks to hours of practice, they didn’t rattle him. His advice to other spellers is simple: enjoy the moment.

“Practice, try your best, and believe in yourself,” Murphy says. “It’s OK if you don’t win. It’s just great that you made it there.”

William Briscoe – Toll Gate Elementary

At Toll Gate Elementary, 26 students competed in a tough war of words, but there was no bad blood when William Briscoe won. Instead, the class surrounded him in a group hug with cheers.

“When I won the spelling bee, I felt excited and supported because my friends cheered for me,” Briscoe says.

It came down to the final word, ‘errands’, for the championship, but the

Pickerington Elementary 4th Grade Spelling Bee Champion, Caitlin Ampah

Tussing Elementary 4th Grade Spelling Bee Runner-up, Baatii, and the Champion Samantha Kwashie

Sycamore Creek Elementary 4th Grade Spelling Bee Champion, Lincoln Murphy

Toll Gate Elementary 4th Grade Spelling Bee Champion, William Briscoe

Violet Elementary School 4th Grade Spelling Bee group participants

double ‘r’ didn’t stump him. Briscoe advises other students to enjoy the moment and release the jitters.

“The advice I would give is: study the words, don’t be nervous, and have fun,” Briscoe says.

Samantha Kwashie – Tussing Elementary

At the Tussing Elementary Spelling Bee, Samantha Kwashie faced tough multi-syllable words like ‘committee’ and ‘respiratory.’

“I felt very confused when I won the spelling bee, because I was not expecting to win,” Kwashie says.

Although she didn’t expect to win, her hard work in preparation paid off.

“I realized that practicing helped me to spell words I did not know,” Kwashie says. “I also felt thankful for my mom because she is the one who helped me a lot and practiced with me.”

She wishes future spellers good luck in their quest to win.

Brandon Barksdale –Violet Elementary

When Brandon Barksdale won Violet Elementary’s spelling bee, his first thought was disbelief. Following the initial shock, he experienced mixed emotions about his victory.

“I felt really happy and I was excited, but I felt bad for the people who didn’t win,” Barksdale says. “I felt bad because they worked hard for the spelling bee but didn’t win.”

As Barksdale spelled word after word, he came across the word invisible.

“It doesn’t sound like how you spell it, which made it extra difficult,” Barksdale says. He is hoping to make it to the regional round at Nationwide Arena, but he has a lot of hard work to do.

“My advice would be to just try your best, work hard, and see what happens,” Barksdale says.

Maggie Fipps is an editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.

Violet Elementary 4th Grade Spelling Bee Champion, Brandon Barksdale

Top homes sold in Pickerington

In February 2025, Pickerington home prices averaged $475,000, 6.4 percent more compared to February 2024. Homes on the market in Pickerington sold after an average of 89 days, compared to 66 days last year. There were 23 homes sold in February this year, less than last February’s 34 homes sold.

(Data from Redfin)

All information is collected from the Fairfield and Franklin County Auditors.

7804 Hastings St. N.W.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$875,985

Sold 2/5/25

7629 Hastings St.

5 beds, 4.5 baths

$821,430

Sold 3/7/25

13388 Imbus Trl.

4 beds, 4.5 baths

$820,000

Sold 3/7/25

8110 Chesapeake Pl. N.W.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$750,000

Sold 3/21/25

171 Pickerington Ponds Dr.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$709,789

Sold 3/5/25

6140 Blacklick Eastern Rd. N.W.

3 beds, 4 baths

$665,000

Sold 3/26/25

“The

only reason we would give Sam 5 stars would be because we can’t give him more.”

620 Kelburn Ln.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$660,000

Sold 2/25/25

350 Blue Jacket Cir.

5 beds, 3.5 baths

$621,575

Sold 3/25/25

172 Pickerington Ponds Dr.

4 beds, 2.5 baths

$618,604

Sold 3/12/25

8732 Springflower Rd.

5 beds, 3.5 baths

$610,000

Sold 3/11/25

618 Kelburn Ln.

4 beds, 3.5 baths

$609,900

Sold 2/28/25

105 Gold Finch St.

4 beds, 2.5 baths

$598,474

Sold 2/11/25

REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

1311 W. Fair Ave., Lancaster

Charming 2½-story home blending classic character with modern updates. Features 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and 1,663 sq ft of living space. Enjoy a spacious yard perfect for outdoor activities. Located on a main road, offering easy access to local shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

SAM COOPER – HOWARD HANNA

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

205 Partridge Ct., Pickerington

Stunning farmhouse-style five-level home on a large corner lot with mature trees. Offers 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a spacious kitchen with island and walk-in pantry. Unique primary suite with private floor and direct laundry access. Finished lower-level rec room and oversized basement ready for customization.

SAM COOPER – HOWARD HANNA

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

8798 Chateau Dr., Pickerington – Sold for $575,000

Remarkable two-story home in the exclusive Barrons Ridge Edition of Countrywood.

Situated on a nearly ¾-acre wooded lot with stream. Features include a soaring great room with fireplace, vaulted home office, large kitchen with island, and Florida room. First-floor primary suite with luxurious bath, upstairs junior suite, and big basement ready for finishing.

SAM COOPER – HOWARD HANNA

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

612 Ludham Trail, Pickerington

Spacious 4-bedroom, 3-bath home with open floor plan. Highlights include a large kitchen island, high-end cabinetry, and appliances. First-floor primary suite with walk-in closet and luxurious bath. Second-story loft and additional bedroom with full bath. Partially finished basement with potential for theater room or bar. Backyard features evergreens for privacy.

SAM COOPER – HOWARD HANNA

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

205 Harkleroad Ct., Pickerington – Sold for $520,000

Impressive two-story home featuring a rare 4-car garage. Open floor plan with dining room, home office, and great room with fireplace. Morning room with wall of windows, open kitchen with breakfast bar, and second-story loft. Master suite with two walk-in closets and remodeled bath. Full basement and backyard with Trex decking.

SAM COOPER – HOWARD HANNA

Sam Cooper (614) 561-3201

samcooper@howardhanna.com

13155 Hunter Ave., Pickerington – Sold for $800,000

Gorgeous five-level home in Meadowmoore Reserve built by Donley Homes. Offers 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and high-end finishes throughout. Features include a home office, formal dining,

How Do You Eat Color?

Written by Mabi David, illustrated by Yas Doctor

As a boy, a girl and their chameleon go through their day, they meet a bounty of colorful fruits and vegetables. They wake up with bright tomatoes and hibiscus, taste sunshine in yellow pineapples and mangoes, yawn with purple yams and drift off to sleep as the colors darken to black.

Teeth: You Only Get Two Sets

Written by Magda Garguláková,

illustrated

by Marie Urbánková

Children will discover the reasons behind toothaches, the uniqueness of growing only two sets of teeth and the importance of early dental care. With a touch of whimsy, this book invites readers to envision themselves with the teeth of a bat, adding a playful element to the educational adventure.

Eat your Age: Feel Younger, Be Happier, Live Longer

By Ian K. Smith, M.D.

Whether we like it or not, lots of things change as we age: our joints start to creak, our muscles weaken and we lose coordination. Our bodies simply don’t look or perform the same each decade of life, and our risks for various diseases and medical conditions also increase as the years do. Getting old may be inevitable, but feeling old is not: we can age well and maximize each decade of life if we do the right things at the right time. In this book, bestselling author Dr. Ian K. Smith explains how to age well and make the most of each decade through informed health and fitness decisions.

Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants

By LoriAnn Bird

A purposeful and powerful reference to the lessons, nourishment, healing, and history of our “plant teachers,” this shares guidance on exploring, gathering and reclaiming these long-revered plants as food and medicine. Separated into two sections, Bird first reveals her own journey to understanding and respecting our plant elders. She offers teachings and lessons about remembering our relationship to the plants around us and our responsibility to the earth that sustains us. The second part of the book is filled with insightful illustrated plant profiles detailing the identification, uses and Indigenous folklore of some of the continent’s most treasured ancestral plants.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles

Story and art by Hajime Komoto, translation by Nova Skipper, touchup art and lettering by Phil Christie

In this realm, magic is everything – everyone can use it, and one’s skill de-

termines their social status. Deep in the forest, oblivious to the ways of the world, lives Mash. Thanks to his daily training, he’s become a fitness god. When Mash is discovered, he has no choice but to enroll in magic school, where he must beat the competition without revealing his secret –he can’t use magic!

Tired Ladies Take a Stand: A Novel

By Gretchen Anthony

During one unforgettable year in their 20s, best friends Emma, Fern, Carolina and Andi make a pact to embrace whatever life throws at them, inspiring Fern to write a memoir detailing their escapades and the magical power of saying yes. But fast forward 20 years, and they have reached their bandwidth of responsibilities. Fern is a full-time writer struggling to pay the bills. Carolina is a fitness-obsessed workaholic. Andi is a disillusioned human rights lawyer. And Emma is a stressedout divorcée in the thick of planning her daughter’s wedding. To reconnect to the fun, fulfilled women they were before, they must learn how to stop saying “yes” to everything asked of them. And so, begins the Year of No.

Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket

By Laura Levine

What could be more idyllic than starting a new gig with an exclusive train ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara? Turns out, a whole lot. Jaine must figure out how to tolerate her client – Chip Miller, aka Iron Man, a wealthy gym chain owner – who Jaine soon discovers is a tyrant and a bully with an ego as pumped as his pecs. Practically everyone on board seems to have it in for Chip – his dysfunctional family members, his beleaguered staff, and even his supposed best buddy from the gym.

COMMUNITY POOL

Season Passes on Sale starting April 1

• Family members include one set of parents or legal guardians, and their immediate children (26 years of age and under) residing in the same household. If more than one family resides in the same household, each family must puchase separate Season Passes. Grandparents, extended family members and others are not included in the Season Pass.

• Babysitter passes are available for Family of 2 or more. Babysitters must be at least 18 years old and be with child on the Season Pass. There is a limit of one babysitter pass per family, although you can list multiple babysitters if necessary.

• Children 11 years old and under MUST be accompanied by an adult (18 years and above) at all times.

• Individuals purchasing Day Passes MUST MEET ONE of the following criteria:

1. Accompanied by a Season Pass Holder

• Season Pass Holder may purchase up to 2 Day Passes

2. Must be at least 21 years or older and show proof of residency within PLSD

• 21 years and older guest may purchase up to 2 additional Day Passes

Any additional guests must remain with a Season Pass Holder or 21 years and older guest at all times.

Pool Hours - Open Daily Open Swim: 12:00-5:00pm Swim Lessons: 5:00-6:00pm*

* Pool closed for group and/or private swim lessons

Family Swim: 6:00-8:00pm

First Day: Saturday, May 24

Last Day: Monday, September 1

Closed Days: August 11-15, 18-22, 25-29*

*Pool closed on weekdays when PLSD is in session

*Pool Operations subject to change

2025 Pool Season Pass Registration Forms available online at www.pickerington.net. *as of May 24, 2025

Stay up to date on pool updates and weather closures. Text @pickpool to 81010 or download the remind APP.

SWIM LESSONS

Registration Information

Three separate 2-week swim sessions will be held beginning June 2. All swim classes meet Monday-Friday for 30 minutes. The second Friday of a 2-week class will be used in case of inclement weather and a make-up class must be held. One week classes will meet Monday-Friday and will not have a make-up day. This is a progressive swim program. Child must prove competency from previous level they attended. The pool administration reserves the right to test the swimming ability of all individuals for proper class placement. Because of the structure of the program, all classes and schedules are subject to change and/or cancellation by the Pool Manager as required by demand or weather. All children must be at least 3 years old by May 24, and potty trained.

and Fees

This is a progressive swim program. Child must prove competency from previous level they attended.

Pre-requisite: Child must be potty trained and willing to get into shallow water without a parent or any floatation device.

Introduction to Swim Lessons (Recommended 3-5 years) 1 week only*

*Jelly Fish - Level 1

Class Maximum 6

Skills to pass: 2 foot depth

• Blow bubbles

• Submerge face under water

• Kick on marshmallow with assistance

• Kick on steps with straight legs and pointed toes

• Submerge whole body under water

• Enter and exit water safely

• Bobbing motion by putting eyes, chin, ears and nose under water each time

• Optional - go down slide with assistance

*Frog - Level 2

Class Maximum 6

Skills to pass: 2 foot depth

• Kick on marshmallow

• Front and back float with assistance

• Front crawl arms with assistance

• Optional - go down slide with assistance

Session 1 June 2-13

*Jelly Fish 6/2-6/6 1 SW-01

9:159:45am

10:0010:30am

10:4511:15am

4:50-

Fish 6/2-6/6 1 SW-06

6/9-6/13 2 SW-07

4 SW-08

5 SW-09

Fish 6 SW-10

3 SW-11

4 SW-12

5 SW-13

7 SW-14

Manatee - Level 3

Class Maximum 8

Skills to pass: 2-5 foot depth

• 10 bobs in chest deep water

• Front and back float

• Front and back crawl arms with assistance

• Front and back kick with assistance

• Front and back glide with assistance

• Retrieve object in chest deep water

• Jump in chest deep water and recover

• Go down slide with assistance

Penguin - Level 4

Class Maximum 8

Skills to pass: 2-5 foot depth

• Front and back crawl arms

• Front and back kick

• Front and back glide

• Jump in water over head and recover

• Float in water over head while wearing lifejacket

• Jump off diving board with assistance

Alligator - Level 5

Class Maximum 8

Skills to pass: 3-5 foot depth

• 10 bobs in water over head

• Front and back crawl for 12.5 meters

• Elementary backstroke for 12.5 meters with assistance

• Retrieve object in water over head

• Tread water for 30 seconds

• Kneeling and standing front dive with assistance

• Go down slide

• Jump off diving board

Session 2 June 16-27

9:159:45am

Flying Fish - Level 6

Class Maximum 8

Skills to pass: 5 foot depth

• Front and back crawl for 25 meters

• Elementary backstroke for 25 meters

• Breaststroke kick for 12.5 meters with

• assistance

• Sidestroke for 12.5 meters with assistance

• Tread water for 1 minute

• Standing front dive

Dolphin - Level 7

Class Maximum 8

Skills to pass: 5 foot depth

• Front and back crawl for 50 meters

• Elementary backstroke for 50 meters

• Breaststroke for 25 meters

• Sidestroke for 25 meters

• Tread water for 2 minutes

• Front dive off diving board

Private Swim Lessons

Private Swim Lessons can be arranged by turning in a Private Swim Lesson Request Form found on our website or available for pickup at the pool during operating hours. Private swim lessons are 30 minutes in length and will be available starting Monday, June 2 and must be completed by July 25.

FEE: $25 per person, per 30 minute lesson Maximum 4 private swim lessons per participant

Session 3 July 7-18

5:255:55pm *Jelly Fish 6/2-6/6 1 SW-20

*Frog 6/9-6/13 2 SW-21 Penguin 4 SW-22

Alligator 5 SW-23

Dolphin 7 SW-24

JumpBunch Sports, Fitness, & Fun

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Soccer Shots

Mini Kickers Soccer Camp

Your little one needs to get out moving and you need a program just right for their size. Search no more. Weekly JumpBunch classes begin with kid-friendly warm-ups and exercises. The class “Coach” will then introduce participants to individual skills, equipment and simple rules of a different sports/fitness activity each week. Coaches praise and encourage children while helping them develop coordination, teamwork and confidence. Each session concludes with games, obstacle courses and cool downs to keep kids engaged and moving throughout the session. Participants should dress to be very active. Adult/parent participation is required for all children under 3. For more information, go to JumpBunch.com

SFF-01 18-36 Months

Apr 14 - May 19 Mo 6 Weeks 6-6:30pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

SFF-02 18-36 Months

Jun 9 - Jul 14 Mo 6 Weeks 6-6:30pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

SFF-03

3-5 Years

Apr 14 - May 19 Mo 6 Weeks 6:30-7pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

SFF-04 3-5 Years

Jun 9 - Jul 14 Mo 6 Weeks 6:30-7pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickering Shelter 300 Covered Bridge Lane

Bally Little Sluggers T-Ball

Bally Sports Group’s Little Sluggers is a great introduction to the game of baseball for young children. Using age appropriate activities, players will be introduced to fundamentals of baseball in an atmosphere that is supportive, fun and prevents children from feeling pressured. Each week, the program will include an instructional portion that will introduce players to batting, base running, fielding, throwing and catching. A modified game will also be played each week. Parent participation is strongly encouraged to allow the program to run smoothly. The Little Sluggers T-Ball program will provide your child with a fun and positive t-ball experience, encouraging future participation. Each player receives a team shirt and hat. Glove is required. Optional: cleats and bat

LS-01

3-4 Years

Apr 30 - May 28 We 5 Weeks 4:30-5:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85

LS-02

3-4 Years

Apr 30 - May 28 We 5 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Softball Field 1 & 2 500 Hereford Dr

Soccer Shots is an engaging children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. We positively impact children’s lives on and off the field through our best-in-class coaching, communication and curriculum. Each session focuses on basic soccer skills and incorporates those skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. All equipment is provided.

SHOT-01

Former collegiate soccer player and coach, Eric Mialky, will direct the camp which is designed to teach 3-5 year olds the basic fundamentals of soccer. Through exciting soccer related games and activities, campers will learn to love the game of soccer in a fun and positive environment. Each participant will receive a camp shirt.

MK-01

2-3 Years

Apr 2 - May 21 We 8 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

SHOT-02

2-3 Years

Apr 5 - May 31 Sa 8 Weeks 3-3:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class May 24

SHOT-03

2-3 Years

Jun 11 - Jul 30 We 8 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

SHOT-04

2-3 Years

Jun 14 - Aug 9 Sa 8 Weeks 3-3:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class Jul 5

SHOT-05 4-6 Years

Apr 2 - May 21 We 8 Weeks 6:15-6:45pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

SHOT-06 4-6 Years

Apr 5 - May 31 Sa 8 Weeks 3:45-4:15pm

Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class May 24

SHOT-07 4-6 Years

Jun 11 - Jul 30 We 8 Weeks 6:15-6:45pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

SHOT-08 4-6 Years

Jun 14 - Aug 9 Sa 8 Weeks 3:45-4:15pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class Jul 5

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Pickerington Safety City

3-5 Years

Jun 16 - 19 Mo-Th 4 Days 9:15-9:45am

Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

MK-02 3-5 Years

Jul 28 - Jul 31 Mo-Th 4 Days 9:15-9:45am

Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Cold Stone Creamery Tour

Join us for a fun and interactive preschool ice cream shop tour. Kids will get to see how their favorite frozen treats are made, then unleash their creativity by making their own custom ice cream creation to enjoy at the end.

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

The City of Pickerington is excited to bring back a popular program for incoming kindergarteners. Learn about various safety topics from police, fire and other local organizations to learn what it takes to be safe in your city. Children will learn about important safety information in a fun format covering topics from how to ride a school bus, playground safety, water safety, what to do in case of a fire and poison prevention. Of course, children will get to pedal around on a small scale safety city to learn about traffic and pedestrian safety as well. The last day of the program will be a graduation ceremony. All participants will receive a t-shirt, bag and bike helmet with registration. This program is limited to 70 children. Please register early to guarantee your spot in the program. Registration for this program is open now through April 25 for all households in the Pickerington Local School District. Registration is not available online during this early enrollment period. Online registration will open to everyone on April 28.

PSC-01

Entering Kindergarten (Fall 2025) Jul 28 - Aug 1 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-11am Fee: $38 PLSD Fee: $30

Location: Victory Park, Terry O’Brien Shelter 75 Lockville Rd

Special thanks to our partners in putting on this wonderful program for the community:

• Pickerington Police Department

• Violet Township Fire Department

• Petermann School Buses

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources

• South Central Power Company

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Bally Mini Soccer Stars

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Self Defense/Kung Fu

Better Babysitter

Bally Sports Group leads an age appropriate program that utilizes fun games and activities to teach the fundamentals to beginning soccer players. Coaches focus on teaching the basics of dribbling, passing, scoring and the concept of game play. Proper sportsmanship is emphasized in a positive and encouraging atmosphere enabling children to enjoy learning soccer while also having fun being physically active. Each week will include both developmentally appropriate instruction as well as recreational, non-competitive game play. Each player receives a team shirt. Shin guards required. Optional: cleats and soccer ball (size 3)

MSS-01

3-4 Years

Apr 3 - May 8 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85

MSS-02

5-6 Years

Apr 3 - May 8 Th 6 Weeks 6:30-7:30pm Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Lil Kik

Directed by Grandmaster Stephens of Free Spirit Karate Clubs. Tae Kwon Do skills help build strength, agility and coordination. Students will learn at their own pace, and most importantly, will have fun, fun, fun. Social skills and coordination drills are wrapped together with our unique self-defense techniques.

LK-01

3-7 Years

Apr 3 - May 15 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83 *No class Apr 17

LK-02

3-7 Years

May 22 - Jun 26 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83

LK-03

3-7 Years

Jul 10 - Aug 14 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83

LK-04

3-7 Years

Aug 21 - Sep 25 Th 6 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $104 City Resident Discount Fee: $83

Location: American Free Spirit Karate 5953 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43232

Music & Movement

Music and Movement is a fun and engaging music class led by our instructor Chloe Bennett. Each class will explore a different instrument such as the flute and guitar. We will explore the history of famous composers and introduce basic music concepts through singing and games. Students will have the opportunity to explore each instrument of the day. Guardians will be required to participate with students who are 3-4 years old.

MAM-01

3-4 Years

Jun 2 - 23 Mo 4 Weeks 5:30-6pm Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

MAM-02

5-6 Years

Jun 2 - 23 Mo 4 Weeks 6:15-6:45pm Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Led by Don Prozy, a 7th level blackbelt in Poekoelan Kung Fu with 30 years experience, you will learn the foundations of basic self-defense including self-defense holds, strikes, and kicks. Strength training, balance, and flexibility conditioning will also be a key factor in this exciting class. Come learn self defense and bring the whole family.

SDK-01

7 Years and Up

Mar 6 - Apr 10 Th 6 Weeks 6-7:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

SDK-02

7 Years and Up Apr 17 - Jun 5 Th 6 Weeks 6-7:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class Apr 24 & May 29

SDK-03

7 Years and Up

Jul 17 - Aug 28 Th 6 Weeks 6-7:30pm Fee: $129 City Resident Discount Fee: $104

*No class Jul 31

Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklick Eastern Rd NW

Kidz Home Alone

Would your child know what to do if they have forgotten their house key? What if they are home alone and they are choking? Our Kidz Home Alone class will give you and your child peace of mind when home alone. As creators of this class, we thought of every home alone scenario possible, and provide solutions for all of those “what-if’s”. This course is designed to teach your child about being home alone safely. An information parent guide is included in the student manual and provides an avenue for discussion between parent and child. It is appropriate for boys and girls entering 4th-6th grade. Students will learn reasons to call 911, answering the door and phone, why it’s necessary to have house rules, first aid, self-Heimlich maneuver, fire escape and severe weather planning.

KHA-01

4th-6th Grade

Jun 3 & 5 Tu, Th 2 Days 12-2pm

Fee: $102 City Resident Discount Fee: $81

KHA-02

4th-6th Grade

Jun 9 & 11 Mo, We 2 Days 5:30-7:30pm Fee: $102 City Resident Discount Fee: $81

Location: Pickerington Public Library 201 Opportunity Way

Would your child know what to do if the child they were babysitting were choking? Does your child babysit their younger siblings? Your child will learn the skills needed to be a Better Baby Sitter. All students will receive their own first aid kit to take home. This class is appropriate for boys and girls entering 5th-8th grade and is interactive and fun with role play and hands on instruciton. Students will learn: first aid and safety; infant and child CPR with mannequin instruction; Care of the choking child and infant; How to handle emergencies; creative problem solving; job professionalism and how to create a marketing flyer; hands on practice with diapering, bottle feeding, infant care and creative age appropriate activities.

BBS-01 5th-8th Grade

Jun 24 & 26 Tu, Th 2 Days 12-4pm Fee: $140 City Resident Discount Fee: $115

Location: Pickerington Public Library 201 Opportunity Way

Science Sleuths Camp

Embark on an exciting journey as a junior detective in the world of science. Kids will tackle fun, hands-on experiments and solve intriguing mysteries using scientific principles. From chemistry tricks to physics challenges, this program is packed with activities that will spark curiosity and enhance problem-solving skills.

SSC-01 6-12 Years

Jun 23 - 26 Mo-Th 4 Days 9am-3pm Fee: $240 City Resident Discount Fee: $215

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Cosmic Curiosity Camp

Blast off into the wonders of space with this out-of-thisworld program. Kids will explore the universe through hands-on activities, from building model rockets to learning about planets and stars. With plenty of space-themed projects and experiments, this program is perfect for young astronomers and space enthusiasts.

CCC-01 6-12 Years

Jul 14 - 17 Mo-Th 4 Days 9am-3pm Fee: $240 City Resident Discount Fee: $215

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Slime Camp

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Skyhawks Basketball

Skyhawks Cheerleading Camp

Dive into a gooey, slimy adventure with a variety of slime-making activities. Kids will experiment with different slime recipes, including monster slime and bubble gum slime, creating colorful and stretchy creations. This program is all about hands-on fun and creativity in a mess-free environment.

SLC-01

Jul 21 - 24

6-12 Years

Mo-Th 4 Days 9am-3pm

Fee: $240 City Resident Discount Fee: $215

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Kids Tennis Camp

Welcome to our tennis camp, where young players can start their tennis journey in a fun, supportive, and encouraging environment. Designed for kids ages 5-18, this camp introduces the basics of tennis while promoting teamwork, fitness, and sportsmanship. Whether your child is picking up a racquet for the first time or has some experience, our tennis camp is the perfect way to start developing their love for the game. Get ready for a week full of fun, fitness, and tennis. Participants will need to bring their own racquet. Intermediate players must be able to rally.

KTC-01 Beginner 5-18 Years

May 27 - 29 Tu-Th 3 Days 8:30-9:45am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

KTC-02 Beginner 5-18 Years

Jun 3 - 5 Tu-Th 3 Days 8:30-9:45am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

KTC-03 Beginner 5-18 Years

Jun 10 - 12 Tu-Th 3 Days 8:30-9:45am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

KTC-05 Intermediate 5-18 Years

May 27 - 29 Tu-Th 3 Days 9:45-11am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

KTC-06 Intermediate 5-18 Years

Jun 3 - 5 Tu-Th 3 Days 9:45-11am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

KTC-07 Intermediate 5-18 Years

Jun 10 - 12 Tu-Th 3 Days 9:45-11am Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

Location: Pickerington High School Central Tennis Courts, 300 Opportunity Way

This fun, skill-intensive program is designed for beginning to intermediate players. Using our progressional curriculum, we focus on the whole player - teaching sportsmanship and teamwork. Boys and girls will learn the fundamentals of passing, shooting, ball handling, rebounding and defense through skill-based instruction and smallsided scrimmages.

SB-01

6-10 Years

May 1 - 29 Th 5 Weeks 5-6pm Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court, 500 Hereford Dr

Skyhawks Beginning Golf

Skyhawks Beginning Golf is powered by Payne Stewart Golf Experiences, the recommended entry-level golf program for PGA Junior Golf Camps. The unique, games-based play program and modified learning equipment make it easier for kids to hit the ball and experience early success. Putting, chipping, pitching and full swing, are all taught through games, simple repetitive motions and learning rhymes that make it easy for young kids to remember and repeat. Specially designed, age appropriate golf equipment is provided.

SBG-01

6-7 Years

Apr 22 - May 20 Tu 5 Weeks 5-6pm Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

SBG-02

8-10 Years

Apr 22 - May 20 Tu 5 Weeks 6:15-7:15pm Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 1 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Skyhawks Basketball Camp

This fun, skill-intensive program is designed for beginning to intermediate players. Using our progressional curriculum, we focus on the whole player - teaching sportsmanship and teamwork. Boys and girls will learn the fundamentals of passing, shooting, ball handling, rebounding and defense through skill-based instruction and smallsided scrimmages.

SBC-01

6-12 Years

Jun 2 - 6 Mo-Fr 5 Days 1-4pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

SBC-02

6-12 Years

Jul 21 - 25 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Victory Park, Basketball Court 1 75 Lockville Rd

Skyhawks Pickleball Camp

Get in the game with Skyhawks Pickleball, gateway to the fastest-growing paddle sport. This program develops and sharpens pickleball skills like groundstrokes, volleys, and serves in a fun environment while focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect.

SPC-01

6-10 Years

Jun 23 - 27 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Taylor Tennis Courts 300 Covered Bridge Ln

This class teaches young athletes the essential skills to lead the crowd and support the home team. Each participant will learn cheers, proper hand/body movements and jumping techniques. There is no stunting, just a big focus on fun while each cheerleader learns important life skills such as teamwork and leadership. The program concludes with a final cheer performance.

SCL-01

6-12 Years

Jul 7 - 11 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm

Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3

300 Covered Bridge Ln

Skyhawks Flag Football Camp

Experience the excitement of football with Skyhawks Flag Football Fueled by USA Football. Using a curriculum developed by the experts from USA Football, coaches will teach skills like passing, receiving, kicking and flag pulling. Participants will gain confidence and learn important life lessons in a fun, positive environment.

SFF-01

6-12 Years

Jun 9 - 13 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm

Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

SFF-02

6-12 Years

Jul 7 - 11 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3

300 Covered Bridge Ln

Skyhawks Beginning Golf Camp

Skyhawks Beginning Golf is powered by Payne Stewart Golf Experiences, the recommended entry-level golf program for PGA Junior Golf Camps. The unique, games-based play program and modified learning equipment make it easier for kids to hit the ball and experience early success. Putting, chipping, pitching and full swing, are all taught through games, simple repetitive motions and learning rhymes that make it easy for young kids to remember and repeat. Specially designed, age appropriate golf equipment is provided.

SGC-01

6-10 Years

Jul 14 - 18 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-12pm

Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3

300 Covered Bridge Ln

Skyhawks Pickleball

Get in the game with Skyhawks Pickleball, gateway to the fastest-growing paddle sport. This program develops and sharpens pickleball skills like groundstrokes, volleys, and serves in a fun environment while focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect. Come experience this lively sport while building confidence and appreciation for pickleball.

SPB-01

7-10 Years

May 1 - 29 Th 5 Weeks 6:15-7:15pm

Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Taylor Tennis Courts

280 Hilltop Dr

Cardinal Soccer Camp

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Cooking Caravan

Bally Sports Camp

The City of Pickerington’s longest running soccer camp is back for its 25th year. Former collegiate soccer player and coach, Eric Mialky, will direct this popular camp, which is designed for all levels of players. Campers will work on footskills, passing, shooting and defending in a positive environment. Innovative games, drills and training will be accomplished in a fun manner. Sportsmanship and teamwork are emphasized. All participants will receive a camp shirt.

CSC-01

5-12 Years

Jun 16 - 19 Mo-Th 4 Days 10-11:30am Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

CSC-02

5-12 Years

Jul 28 - Jul 31 Mo-Th 4 Days 10-11:30am Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Summer Math Fun

Eric Mialky, certified math teacher, will instruct the class aimed at keeping math skills sharp over the summer. Individualized instruction and focus will be offered to increase math skills. Whether your child is seeking enrichment opportunities or a review of last year’s material, this math camp will benefit students of all abilities. Through a nurturing and positive environment, students will enjoy a wide range of math games which will make summer learning fun. Students will be grouped by ability and age. Each session will focus on new skills, games and content, so sign up for both sessions.

SMF-01

7-12 Years

Jun 16 - 19 Mo-Th 4 Days 1-2:15pm Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

SMF-02

7-12 Years

Jul 28 - Jul 31 Mo-Th 4 Days 1-2:15pm Fee: $94 City Resident Discount Fee: $75

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Speed and Agility

Pickerington Youth Speed and Agility is a program designed for the young athlete to improve speed, quickness, coordination and reaction time. The workouts in this class will focus on using speed ladders, mini-hurdles, jump ropes and more. All athletes will benefit from improved balance, flexibility and quicker feet in a positive and nurturing enviornment. This camp will provide a fun way for kids to exercise over the summer while also becoming more physically fit. Campers of all abilities and sports backgrounds are encouraged to register.

SA-01

7-14 Years

Jun 16 - 19 Mo-Th 4 Days 2:30-3:20pm Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

SA-02 7-14 Years

Jul 28 - Jul 31 Mo-Th 4 Days 2:30-3:20pm Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

SA-03 7-14 Years

Aug 4 -7 Mo-Th 4 Days 12:50-1:40pm Fee: $58 City Resident Discount Fee: $46

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr

Cooking Caravan will lead young Chefs in a step-by-step presentation on how to cook new recipes they can make at home for their family and friends. These hands-on classes are high energy, engaging, informative, and delicious. All supplies are included. For more on the chefs, visit: wearethecaravan.com.

CCL-01 Homemade Tortillas 6 Years and Up Apr 2 We 1 Day 6-7pm Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

CCL-02 Fruit Pizza 6 Years and Up May 7 We 1 Day 6-7pm Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

CCL-03 FunNachos 13 Years and Up May 14 We 1 Day 6-7pm Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

Location: Pickerington Public Library, Sycamore Plaza Branch, 7861 Refugee Rd

Summer Science and Math Fun Camp

Summer Science and Math Fun is taught by certified math and science teacher, Eric Mialky, who brings 26 years of educational experience to the Pickerington community. Each daily class will include 2 portions: math and science. The math segment of each class will combine instruction, games, and math challenges in a fun and innovative way. Students seeking remedial or enrichment opportunities will benefit from this class. The science component of this camp will allow students hands on activities and learning such as: architectural design, STEM challenges, experiments, environmental science discovery, and much more. Each day will feature fun, interactive lessons where campers can conduct cool experiments, create unique projects, and solve science-themed challenges. All supplies are included in the camp fee. Students are encouraged to bring a snack/small lunch and water bottle to each class.

SSM-01

7-12 Years

Jun 9 - 12 Mo-Th 4 Days 9:30am-12:30pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

SSM-02

7-12 Years

Aug 4 -7 Mo-Th 4 Days 9:30am-12:30pm Fee: $170 City Resident Discount Fee: $145

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Dr

Join Bally Sports Group this summer for an active and fun summer camp experience. Campers will be introduced to a different sport each week, where instruction will be delivered in a positive and encouraging way. Instruction will be tailored to each child’s skill level based on their experience in the sport. Camp will also feature traditional games and activities, including camp games, nature walks, trivia and more. Bally Sports will put an emphasis on a certain life virtue relating to sports each week. Bally Sports employs coaches with strong educational background, experience in a wide variety of sports and a passion for working with children. All day camps are staffed at an appropriate counselor to camper ratio. Join in on the fun this summer.

BSG-01 Pickleball, Lacrosse & Volleyball 6-12 Years

Jun 2 - 6 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-3pm Fee: $185 City Resident Discount Fee: $160

Jun 23 - 27 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-3pm

BSG-05 Five Tool- Baseball and

Resident Discount Fee: $160

BSG-07 First and Ten Football and Cheer 6-12 Years

Jul 21 - 25 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-3pm Fee: $185 City Resident Discount Fee: $160

BSG-08 Olympics 6-12 Years

Jul 28 - Aug 1 Mo-Fr 5 Days 9am-3pm Fee: $185 City Resident Discount Fee: $160

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickering Shelter 300 Covered Bridge Ln

Bally Minor League Baseball

Bally Sports Minor League Baseball is a great introduction to coach-pitch baseball for beginning baseball players. The program utilizes instruction including batting, fielding, throwing and catching. The program will also include a modified, non-competitive game each week. Bally Sports staff will lead each team’s instruction, although parent participation is strongly encouraged. Bally Sports strives to emphasize the importance of great sportsmanship by creating an encouraging atmosphere that helps players build self-esteem and encourage future participation. Each player receives a team shirt and hat. Glove is required. Optional: cleats and bat

CPB-01 5-7 Years

Apr 30 - May 28 We 5 Weeks 6:30-7:45pm

Fee: $107 City Resident Discount Fee: $85

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Softball Field 1 & 2 500 Hereford Dr

YOUTH PROGRAMS ADAPTIVE & INCLUSIVE

Kids in Karate- Adults too

Coyote Run Nature Series

Cooking Caravan

Directed by Grandmaster Stephens of Free Spirit Karate Clubs. Tae Kwon Do skills help build strength, agility and coordination. The mental aspects builds selfconfidence, self-control and mental-discipline. From kids to adults, it is great for the whole family. Everyone can benefit from this class.

KIK-01

6 Years and Up

May 8 - Jun 26 Th 8 Weeks 6-7:30pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

KIK-02

6 Years and Up

Jul 10 - Aug 28 Th 8 Weeks 6-7:30pm Fee: $87 City Resident Discount Fee: $69

Location: American Free Spirit Karate 5953 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43232

Disc Golf Clinic

Vernal Pools

16 Years and Up

Late winter/early spring is a special time of year as that is when vernal pools spring to life. Join us at Coyote Run to check out salamanders, frogs, and other local wildlife we find. Be prepared for a colder/wetter hike. Please wear proper weather attire.

CRNS-01 Mar 8 Sa 9-10:30am

Fee: Free

Location: Coyote Run State Nature Preserve 9270 Pickerington Rd

Come join the Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club this Summer with their beginner disc golf clinics. This clinic is designed for individuals who have never played the sport before and are eager to learn. Participants will learn the basics of rules, sport objectives, and much more. Each participant will recieve a disc on the first day.

DGCY-01 Beginners 10-17 Years

Jun 18 & 19 W-Th 2 Days 5:30-7pm Fee: $25 City Resident Discount Fee: $20

DGCY-02 Throwing 10-17 Years

Jun 25 & 26 W-Th 2 Days 5:30-7pm Fee: $25 City Resident Discount Fee: $20

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3 300 Covered Bridge Ln

St. Patrick’s Cookie Baking

Let your creativity shine in our St. Patrick’s cookie decorating class, perfect for kids ages 8-14. Learn fun techniques to design beautiful holiday cookies in a lively and festive atmosphere. Class hosted by Cold Stone Creamery and Spectrum of Sweets.

SPA-01 8-14 Years

Mar 15 Sa 1 Day 10-11am Fee: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

Ice Cream Sandwich Creation

Spring Wildflowers

8 Years and Up

Join us and Fairfield County Park District as we explore nature’s display of flowers at Coyote Run. We’re likely to see every color of the rainbow as it carpets the ground, from trillium to pawpaw and everything between!

CRNS-02 Apr 26 Sa 3-4:30pm Fee: Free

Location: Coyote Run State Nature Preserve 9270 Pickerington Rd

Spring Bird Migration

8 Years and Up

You’ve heard the rumors that birds are coming. In fact, they’re here right now!

Take your favorite ice cream flavor and create your own custom chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. Roll it in your favorite toppings and dip in chocolate for the ultimate dream ice cream sandwich. Make 4 of them and take home for everyone to enjoy. Perfect Father’s Day gift for Dad.

ICE-01 8-14 Years

Jun 14 Sa 1 Day 10-11am Fee: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

On this hike with Fairfield County Park District we’ll see what bright but weary travelers can find resting in the budding trees. Beginners are welcome, and a limited supply of binoculars will be available to borrow for the hike on a first come first serve basis.

CRNS-03 May 3 Sa 6-7:30pm Fee: Free

Location: Coyote Run State Nature Preserve 9270 Pickerington Rd

Cooking Caravan will lead young Chefs in a step-by-step presentation on how to cook new recipes they can make at home for their family and friends. These hands-on classes are high energy, engaging, informative, and delicious. All supplies are included. For more on the chefs, visit: wearethecaravan.com.

CCA-01 Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

6 Years and Up Apr 16 We 1 Day 6-7pm Fee: $65 City Resident Discount Fee: $52

Location: Pickerington Public Library, Sycamore Plaza Branch, 7861 Refugee Rd

Cold Stone Creamery Tour

Bring your little ones for a special behind-the-scenes tours of our ice cream shop, tailored for children with disabilities. They’ll explore how ice cream is made and get hands-on as they create their very own ice cream treat, all in a supportive, sensory-friendly environment.

CST-01

5-10 Years

Apr 26 Sa 1 Day 9-10am Fee: $29 City Resident Discount Fee: $23

CST-02

Years Aug 2 Sa 1 Day 9-10am

$29 City Resident Discount Fee: $23

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

St. Patrick’s Cookie Baking

Join us for a fun and inclusive cookie decorating class designed for young people with disabilities. We’ll provide step-by-step guidance in a supportive environment to create festive holiday cookies while celebrating creativity and individuality. Class hosted by Cold Stone Creamery and Spectrum of Sweets.

SPC-01 10-17 Years

Mar 15 Sa 1 Day 9-10am

Fee: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

Ice Cream Sandwich Creation

Take your favorite ice cream flavor and create your own custom chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. Roll it in your favorite toppings and dip in chocolate for the ultimate dream ice cream sandwich. Make 4 of them and take home for everyone to enjoy. Perfect Father’s Day gift for Dad.

ICC-01

10-17 Years

Jun 14 Sa 1 Day 9-10am

Fee: $37 City Resident Discount Fee: $29

Location: Cold Stone Creamery 1718 Hill Rd

Pickleball Clinic

Come join the Pickleball fun as instructor Anthony D’Andrea provides the skills to become a pickleballer. Beginners will learn how to score, serve, and understand the basic fundamentals of the game. Advanced participants will dive deeper into game strategy, returning, and third shots. Bring your paddle and come join in on the fun.

PBC-01 Beginner 16 Years and Up

Jul 10 - 31 Th 4 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $73 City Resident Discount Fee: $58

PBC-02 Beginner 16 Years and Up

Aug 7 - 28 Th 4 Weeks 5:30-6:30pm Fee: $73 City Resident Discount Fee: $58

PBC-03 Advanced 16 Years and Up Jul 10 - 31 Th 4 Weeks 6:45-7:45pm Fee: $73 City Resident Discount Fee: $58

PBC-04 Advanced 16 Years and Up

Aug 7 - 28 Th 4 Weeks 6:45-7:45pm Fee: $73 City Resident Discount Fee: $58

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickleball Courts 280 Hilltop Dr

Women’s Self Defense

Join Don Prozy, a 7th level blackbelt in Poekoelan Kung Fu, for this class focusing on the fundamentals of self defense for women. Class will comprise of basic self defense strikes, kicks, and holds but will also emphasize basic safety tips and precautions.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Zumba Fitness

Pickleball League: Doubles

WSD-01 18 Years and Up

Jun 1 - 22 Su 4 Weeks 6-6:45pm Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

WSD-02

18 Years and Up

Jun 29 - Jul 20 Su 4 Weeks 6-6:45pm Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

WSD-03 18 Years and Up

Aug 3 - 24 Su 4 Weeks 6-6:45pm Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr

Men’s Self Defense

Come learn basic and advance striking skills used for personal self-defense or competing in MMA. You will learn and practice fundamentals in striking using punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to include foot work and some defenses. Your instructor, Don Prozy, is a 7th level blackbelt and has been training, teaching, and competing for decades in a rare, combat art. This class is for beginners through advanced martial artists.

MSD-01

18 Years and Up

Jun 1 - 22 Su 4 Weeks 7-7:45pm Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

MSD-02

18 Years and Up

Jun 29 - Jul 20 Su 4 Weeks 7-7:45pm Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

MSD-03

18 Years and Up

Aug 3 - 24 Su 4 Weeks 7-7:45pm

Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Basketball Court 500 Hereford Dr

Zumba® is a latin based dance fitness program. We “visit” cultures all around the world through the magic of dance. This is a judgement free zone, and no dance experience is needed. Bring water along with you, and be prepared to work, laugh and have fun; all while making those calories cry (sweat). Tammy is a licensed Zumba® instructor and current ZIN™ member. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/ZumbaWithTammyTyler.

ZF-01

18 Years and Up

Apr 7 - Jun 23 Mo 11 Weeks 6-7pm

Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64

*No class May 26

ZF-02

18 Years and Up

Jul 7 - Sep 22 Mo 11 Weeks 6-7pm Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64

*No class Sep 1

Location: Pickerington Senior Center 150 Hereford Dr

ZF-03

18 Years and Up

Apr 24 - Jul 17 Th 11 Weeks 6-7pm

Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64

*No class Jul 3 & 10

ZF-04

18 Years and Up

Aug 7 - Oct 23 Th 11 Weeks 6-7pm

Fee: $80 City Resident Discount Fee: $64

*No class Aug 14

Location: Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklick Eastern Rd NW

Doubles Tennis League

Come compete this upcoming season in the Pickerington Pickleball Doubles League. The league will be self-officiated and self-scored with 8 teams max. Each team is guaranteed 14 games with the top 4 teams advancing to a season finale tournament. Teams can consist of 2 males or females or co-ed. Sign up one person per team; price is per team, not per person. Participants will need to bring their own paddles and ball.

The 2.5 and Below League is not a league intended for players to learn the sport for the first time. Players in this league must understand the rules and game settings.

The 3.0 & Above League is designed for intermediate and advanced pickleball players.

Please register to the correct league according to your skill level.

18 years and older

Spring Leagues

Registration Deadline: Mar 28

2.5 & Below Division-Doubles

Games begin: Wednesday, Apr 9

8 Weeks 6 and 7pm

Fee: $60 per team

3.0 & Above Division-Doubles

Games begin: Tuesday, Apr 8

8 Weeks 6 and 7pm

Fee: $60 per team

Summer Leagues

Registration Deadline: Jun 17

2.5 & Below Division-Doubles

Join our Adult Doubles League for a fun and competitive way to stay active while enjoying the sport of tennis. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this league offers a great opportunity to team up, sharpen your skills, and engage with a vibrant community of players. Players will need their own racquet.

DT-01

18 Years and Up

May 22 - Jun 26 Th 6 Weeks 6:30-8:30pm

Fee: $109 City Resident Discount Fee: $87

Location: Pickerington High School Central, Tennis Courts, 300 Opportunity Way

Disc Golf Clinics

Games begin: Wednesday, Jun 25

8 Weeks 6 and 7pm

Fee: $60 per team

3.0 & Above Division-Doubles

Games begin: Tuesday, Jun 24

8 Weeks 6 and 7pm

Fee: $60 per team

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Taylor Tennis Courts 281 Hilltop Dr

Community Gardens

Come join the Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club this Summer with their beginner disc golf clinics. This clinic is designed for individuals who have never played the sport before and are eager to learn. Participants will learn the basics of rules, sport objectives, and much more. Each participant will recieve a disc on the first day.

DGCA-01 Beginners 18 Years and Up Jun 18 & 19 W-Th 2 Days 7:15-8:15pm

Fee: $25 City Resident Discount Fee: $20

DGCA-02 Throwing 18 Years and Up Jun 25 & 26 W-Th 2 Days 7:15-8:15pm

Fee: $25 City Resident Discount Fee: $20

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Soccer Field 3 300 Covered Bridge Ln

The Parks and Recreation Department has 71 garden plots that may be reserved for the growing season in addition to 6 raised beds. Garden plots are tilled around April 1 and are open through October. Families are able to register for up to two plots. Register now while plots are still available. Online registration opens February 18 or stop by City Hall to pick a garden plot out.

Registration begins:

Feb 3-5

Returning Gardeners

Feb 10-14 Returning Gardeners wanting a new plot (register in person to pick new garden plot)

Feb 18 New Gardeners and Online Registration

Resident

Location: Shawnee Crossing Park 860 E. Columbus Street

Breakfast with the Bunny

Saturday, April 12

8:00AM, 9:30AM, or 11:00AM Pickerington Senior Center 150 Hereford Dr

$10/person (children 1 year old & under are free but must have a ticket)

Tickets available March 3 online.

Tickets will not be sold at the event

Pickerington Parks and Recreation 614-833-2211 www.pickerington.net

Monday, April 14 6 PM Sycamore Creek Park

Join the Parks and Recreation Board as we receive the Tree City USA Award. A tree will be planted to honor this recognition and Arbor Day.

Earth Day Celebration

May 10

Fireworks

Youth Adventure Challenge

Saturday, August 9 | 9:00-11:00am

Pre-Register Online by August 1

YAC-01 3-12 Years

*Heat times will be emailed week of August 4

Location: Sycamore Creek Park, Pickering Shelter

300 Covered Bridge Ln

Pickerington Parks & Recreation

614-833-2211 www pickerington net

COMING SOON

Sycamore Creek Park Improvements

Covered Bridge Beautification Begins Spring 2025

Sycamore Pond Restoration Begins Spring 2025

New Programs

Parks and Recreation is looking for new programs and instructors for our upcoming seasons. If you have any special interests or hobbies please contact us today!

Randy Hughes Skate Park New Features Begins Spring 2025

Pickerington Parks and Recreation

614-833-2211 | www.pickerington.net

Registration is complete with full payment. Accepted methods of payment include: Cash, Checks made payable to City of Pickerington, VISA and MasterCard. City of Pickerington charges a $35 returned check fee.

ONLINE

Register for select Parks and Recreation activities 24/7 with online registration at www.pickerington.net or on your smart phone by scanning the code.

IN PERSON

Register in person from 8:00am-5:00pm MondayFriday at the Parks and Recreation Department located at City Hall, 100 Lockville Road across from Victory Park.

EMAIL

Email a copy of the Registration form found at www.pickerington.net to recreation@pickerington.net.

BY MAIL

Send completed registration form and full payment to: City of Pickerington, 100 Lockville Road, Pickerington, OH 43147

DROP BOX

Drop off your registration form and full payment after normal operating hours in the secure drop box located at City Hall and your registration will be processed the next business day.

Trails and Open Space Pickerington, Ohio

Pictures Wanted

Send scenic pictures enjoying one of the parks or programs to pics@pickerington.net. Pictures may be posted on the City’s Facebook page or be used in future Program Guides.

Park Watch

Please be alert to safety hazards, vandalism and other crimes in our parks. Report crimes to Pickerington Police Department at 614-575-6911.

8. Hunting and trapping is prohibited.

9. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times and owners must pick up after their pets.

10. No swimming, wading, or boating.

11. Catch and release fishing only.

12. No motorized vehicles except in designated areas.

13. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

7. No fires except in designated areas.

Violation of any park rule may lead to ejection from the park or prosecution under the laws of the City of Pickerington.

PARK / FACILITY RESERVATIONS

Reservations accepted!

Reserve space for your family reunion, birthday party, or graduation party beginning March 1 for April 1-October 31, 2025.

Facility Reservations

1. Facilities may be reserved throughout the year from April 1 - October 31. Reservations will be accepted after March 1 of each year. Restroom facilities are not available from November 1 - April. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance. Additional information available at www. pickerington.net.

2. Full payment is required when submitting reservation applications.

3. Any person or organization holding an approved application shall receive a refund only if the Parks and Recreation Department is given proper notice to cancel prior to two (2) weeks from the scheduled date of use. A Refund Request Form must be submitted, and there is a $15 processing fee to cancel a reservation.

4. In the event of rain or extreme weather conditions, as determined by the Parks and Recreation Department, reservations will be rescheduled if possible.

5. The group or organization using the facilities shall assure that:

a. All park rules are followed.

b. Damages made to the facilities or equipment during their time of use shall be their financial responsibility.

c. Facilities shall be left clean and neat.

Facility amenities for all park spaces available for reservation can be accessed online at www. pickerington.net.

Time Slots

9:00am-1:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm

2025 Facility Reservation Fees

$80 Fee

$40 City Resident/Non-Profit Discount Fee

*Fees are charged per time slot for each reserved space.

Diley Road Softball Fields Shelter 2 8995 Diley Road (Seats approx. 30)

Sycamore Creek Park Pickering Shelter 300 Covered Bridge Lane (Seats approx. 80)

Sycamore Creek Park Hilltop Shelter 280 Hilltop Drive (Seats approx. 50)

Willow Pond Park Shelter 209 Pruden Drive (Seats approx. 50)

Victory Park Terry O’Brien Shelter 75 Lockville Road (Seats approx. 95)

Simsbury Disc Golf Course Shelter 625 East Columbus Street (Seats approx. 50)

Sycamore Creek Park Moorhead Shelter 481 Hereford Drive (Seats approx. 50) (no electricity available)

LANCASTER FESTIVAL LANCASTER FESTIVAL 2025

July 26

Aug 2

TICKETS

Aug 2

with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra

July 24-Aug 2, 2025

with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra