County pledges $2k for pickleball courts

Henry County Supervisors approved pledging $2,000 to the Pickleball Committee to show county support as they prepare to apply for a Community Action and Tourism grant that could push them over the edge in reaching their $150,000 goal to build a six-court pickleball complex with fencing.

In a letter to supervisors, the Pickleball Committee said that getting some financial backing from the county is the last piece of the puzzle to successfully apply for the Community Action and Tourism (CAT) grant. They did not specify an amount.

'The funds we've received from the community and private donations are truly unbelievable. It's really amazing how generous people have been to this project” said John Roederer, member of the Pickleball Committee, during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21. Roederer added that he hoped whatever amount the county could contribute would be the additional show of support the Pickleball Committee needed to secure the CAT grant.

The Pickleball Committee currently has close to $120,000 in pledges for the project. They plan to finish receiving pledges and applying for grants this spring and want to begin building courts this summer. They are planning on removing two dilapidated tennis courts on the property of the Mt. Pleasant Middle School and replace them with pickleball courts.

The Mt. Pleasant Middle School will use the courts during the school day, and they will be available for open play outside of school hours for anyone in the community. Roederer said there are pickleball players all across Henry County from New London, Winfield, Wayland and other rural areas who currently play pickleball weekly at The REC Center.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School District is supportive of the pickleball court project, having already agreed to contribute $15,000 in funding and maintain the facility once it is built. The City of Mt. Pleasant also pledged $5,000 to the project.

Supervisor Greg Moeller said individual donations 'help tremendously” in getting the CAT grant because it's a demonstration of community support. However, he voiced concern over whether the pickleball courts would be used during the hot summer months.

'Pickleball people are funny,” Roederer said, adding that if they have to go out at 6 a.m. to avoid the afternoon heat to play, they will.

Supervisor Marc Lindeen said he justified the county donating to the Pickleball Committee because they are in the business of promoting a healthier community.

'I appreciate the (Pickleball Committee's) work, and I look at it as promoting a healthier Henry County,” Lindeen said.

The motion to pledge $2,000 was made by Supervisor Gary See and seconded by Lindeen. Lindeen said without the Pickleball Committee explicitly asking for a dollar amount, it's difficult to come up with a number.

'I try to think about the dollars we've committed for other grants, and I think at $2,000 we're very generous,” Lindeen said.