Pickleball funds reach $116,000

WILLIAMSBURG — Pickleball Iowa County has collected $116,000 toward the construction of new pickleball courts at the recreation center in Williamsburg.

Representatives of the organization updated the Williamsburg City Council Oct. 13 about their fundraising efforts and asked what their next steps should be.

Jodi Stahl said membership in Pickleball Iowa County has grown. Fundraising events, donations from private individuals and businesses have pushed the Pickleball Iowa County balance to $116,000.

Pickleball Iowa County is looking into grants for additional funding, said Stahl. It has already received $5,000 from Community Foundation.

Pickleball Iowa County raises money at various community events and in collaboration with other organizations or businesses, said Stahl.

The group had a tournament during the Marengo Fall Festival last weekend. Residents can follow the Pickleball Iowa County Facebook page for events, Stahl said.

A winter league is starting at the Williamsburg Rec Center, said Stahl. More than a dozen teams played at the Rec Center during the summer, she said.

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Pickleball Iowa County members have been researching pickleball courts to help them decide what they want for Williamsburg. “[We’ve] made a lot of connections that way,” Stahl said.

Now over halfway to its goal of $200,000-$250,000, Pickleball Iowa County is ready to move to the next step, said Stahl. Grant applications want projects to be shovel ready, she said.

Bob Simmering with VSP Engineering agreed to create an engineering report for the project, said Stahl. He’s worked with the city before and said he’d ask the city what information it needs to allow Pickleball Iowa County to pursue the project.

City Councilman Tyler Marshall said the city council would need to know the size and cost and how the courts sit in relation to utilities. The preliminary design would include a concept drawing.

The actual design will have to be engineered in detail before the project can go out for bids, said City Attorney Eric Tindal, but the city could start with a concept drawing.

Pickleball Iowa County is excited that there’s so much support for the new courts, Mary Wetjen said. “I think that’s something you should feel really good about.”

It’s nice to see all the businesses that support the project on Facebook, Mayor Adam Grier said.