The North Platte Pickleball Club celebrated the grand opening of the new Cody Park Pickleball Courts on Thursday, June 19. The event included a Mayor’s Cup/Celebrity Match and a professional exhibition, bringing together local leaders, organizations, and community members for a day of fun and recognition.
Excitement at the Grand Opening
The day featured a pro exhibition match where local players Ryan Hilderbrand and Buddy Terry took on five-time US Open Champion Laura Fenton Kovanda and her teammate Jonathan Hanridge. A large crowd gathered to watch, including North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher and Terri Burchell, as well as groups like the Mid Nebraska Community Foundation, Visit North Platte, and the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation.
“This facility is amazing,” said Bard Baldridge, Great Plains Region USA Pickleball Ambassador. “We had a beautiful day for the grand opening. We had a great turnout. We had a packed viewing area, the Chamber, Nebraskaland Days, (Mayor Brandon Kelliher and wife, Terri Burchell), Mid Nebraska Community Foundation, and Visit North Platte were all on hand to enjoy this celebration, along with city parks.”
Pro Clinic and Community Support
Laura Fenton Kovanda will lead a members-only clinic at the new courts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Each day will include two sessions: one from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. and another from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., specifically for advanced members.
Bard Baldridge praised the hard work of the city and the parks department. “The city has worked tirelessly to try to get this facility finished in time. They were even lining the parking lot as of yesterday and putting up lights,” Baldridge said. “With all the rain that we’ve had, it’s amazing. The city parks came through for us and made this happen, and now we have not only pickleball courts, but we have a true pickleball/tennis complex, and it’s one of the best in the seven-state area.”
Turning a Dream into Reality
Bard Baldridge said the project came to life thanks to the help from the city and strong community support. Mayor Kelliher said, ‘North Platte usually just does enough. Go out and let’s create your dream facility,” Baldridge said. “It’s surpassed our dreams. We couldn’t be more thankful for our community, which has come out and helped us raise $500,000 to make this dream come true.”
News in Brief: North Platte Pickleball Club
North Platte Pickleball Club held a grand opening on June 19 for its new Cody Park courts, highlighted by a celebrity match and pro exhibition. With strong community support, the courts are now a top-tier facility in the region. A members-only pro clinic begins June 25, led by Laura Fenton Kovanda.
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