Rhinelander pickleball group begins fundraising drive
Pioneer Park to house city’s first dedicated courts
By Eileen Persike
Editor
A group of Rhinelander pickleball enthusiasts is reclaiming the old tennis court space at Pioneer Park for courts of their own.
“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport today,” said Pioneer Park Pickleball Group Chair Maureen O’Melia. “You’ll see converted tennis courts in many communities being taken over by the pickleball community. It’s what’s happening now.”
The group kicked off its fundraising Thursday. About $22,000 has already been collected through corporate and individual donors. O’Melia said they want to raise another $50,000 to get the project started. The group would like to have six to eight playing courts, which are smaller than tennis courts and have shorter nets. The game is played with paddles and a plastic ball with holes, similar to a wiffle ball.
The courts are part of the city’s Pioneer Park plan that was discussed by the common council recently. Group members are hoping to have enough funding to begin laying asphalt sometime in July. For more information, visit rhinelanderpickleball.net.
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