Pickleball courts ready in time for school start

MT. PLEASANT - After a long-awaited two years, the pickleball courts by the Mt. Pleasant Middle School will be completed within the next two weeks.

The paddle ball sport, which borrows elements from tennis, badminton and table tennis, saw a boom in popularity in the area and among students and local residents which prompted the community to look into building the new facility in the summer of 2018.

Mt. Pleasant Community School District Superintendent John Henriksen said the courts are a good example of 'how the community and school district can work together.”

'The bulk of [the] cost is being taken care of by personal donations and business donations in the community … the district has put about $30,000 into it as well. It's really neat collaborative work,” he said. The project received a Wellmark Grant, which contributes to community and tourism projects.

The new facility, which will include six outdoor courts, hit a couple snags when cost estimates from construction companies were higher than expected. While the group had budgeted $155,000, bids came back closer to $200,000. The project was able to move forward with the continued support of the community.

Construction for the court began in late March and is expected to finish with the next 10 days.

'What a great facility for the community and students to use. It's been a longtime coming. It's had its hurdles, but we're near the finish line,” Henriksen said.

The superintendent added that once the courts are finished, they will be open to community members and the public in the same way other district facilities like playgrounds will be open for use.

John Roederer, a member of the project's committee, said people 'have been very generous” and have honored their pledges even as the community has continued to face the coronavirus pandemic.

'It's progressing really well. It's going to be done before school starts,” Roederer said.

The committee member added pickleball is a naturally distanced sport people can continue to play, even in light of the pandemic. He added people usually bring their own towels and water bottles and try to be conscious of the passing of the balls.

Though a ceremony may not be possible in the coming weeks as the court is finished, the committee member added he hopes the group will eventually be able to hold a small ceremony and ribbon-cutting to highlight completion of the project and thank the community for its support.

Even further down the road, Roederer is looking forward to seasoned players providing lessons and clinics to others in the community interested in exploring pickleball.

'We're really excited about it. It just provides the adults and youth in the community another venue to get outside and get some exercise and socialization - something everyone needs, especially considering the times we're in right now,” he said.