What's happening: The Gladstone community is starting a new crowdfunding campaign to bring professional-level pickleball courts to the famous John and Melissa Besse Sports Park. The eight-court “Courts of Dreams” facility would provide opportunities for more games for locals as well as being able to host larger tournaments.
The pickleball craze: Pickleball is a tennis-like sport that is played with rigid paddles and a plastic ball, played on the same-sized court used for doubles badminton. The sport incorporates much of the movement of tennis, without as much running around, so it is one of the few sports popular with all age demographics.
It’s currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the world but sparked in popularity originally in the Iron Mountain area. While communities are embracing the sport, many communities passed on opportunities to build pickleball courts or modify existing ones through American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA), forcing many pickleball enthusiasts to find other funding opportunities.
What they're saying: “Pickleball is a unique, recreational activity that brings together community members from multiple generations around the love of this easygoing and inclusive sport, while also improving their health and well-being,” says Paula Holtz, managing director of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Regional Prosperity. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
What's next: The goal is to raise $50,000 by September 28 so the campaign can qualify for matching grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative. That extra $100,000 would be mixed with existing funding to create the pickleball courts. Crowdfunding is available through
Patronicity. To donate to the Gladstone campaign, go to
Gladstone Area Pickleball Court Project.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.