Pickleball Courts Now Open: The local pickleball community celebrated a significant milestone this Thursday afternoon with the soft opening of the Courts of Dreams at the John and Melissa Besse Sports Park. This much-anticipated facility, featuring eight dedicated pickleball courts, is the result of a successful crowdfunding campaign that has raised an impressive $365,000 to bring this vision to life.
A Much-Needed Space
Janet Shandonay-Beauvais, treasurer of Gladstone Area Pickleball, emphasized the importance of the new courts for the growing number of enthusiasts. “Prior to this, we’ve had to split up court times on the courts near Jones School, and we couldn’t accommodate everybody at once,” she explained. With the new facility now open, the organization aims to foster a sense of community among players, allowing everyone to gather and enjoy the sport in one welcoming location.
Future Improvements on the Horizon
While the courts are now available for play, the Gladstone Area Pickleball group is not resting on its laurels. Plans are well underway to enhance the facility further with a second pavilion, benches, sponsor banners, windscreens, paddle holders, and other amenities designed to improve the overall experience.
Shandonay-Beauvais expressed the group’s excitement about these developments, noting the significance of reaching this point. “It’s just wonderful to be at this point,” she said. “It’s been a long two to three years gathering support, raising funds, and completing this construction. There’s a lot of things along the way, and we’re so happy to be at this point.”
Looking Ahead to the Grand Opening
A grand opening event for the Courts of Dreams is planned for the spring, promising to be a celebration of the community’s collective efforts. For now, the courts are reserved exclusively for members from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., after which they open to the public, ensuring that all players have the opportunity to enjoy the new facility. To support ongoing efforts and future improvements, a box will be set up to collect a “daily fee donation” from visitors.
News in Brief : Pickleball Courts Now Open
Gladstone Area Pickleball has officially opened its new pickleball Courts of Dreams at John and Melissa Besse Sports Park in Gladstone, Michigan, following a successful crowdfunding effort that raised $365,000. The facility includes eight dedicated pickleball courts and aims to unite the community in one welcoming location.
While a grand opening is planned for spring, the courts currently operate exclusively for members in the morning, opening to the public in the afternoon with a donation box to support ongoing enhancements.
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